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BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND 
JOFFRE 

Their  Speeches  and  other  public  utterances  in  America, 

and  those  of  Italian,  Belgian  and  Russian 

Commissioners  during  the  Great  War 

With  an  Account  of  the  Arrival  of  our  Warships  and  Soldiers 

in  England  and  France  Under  Admiral  Sims 

and  General  Pershing 

April  21,  1917— July  4, 1917 


COLLECTED  AND  ARRANQED,  WITH  DESCRIPTIVE  MATTER, 
AS  COMPILED  FROM  CONTEMPORARY  ACCOUNTS 

BY 

FRANCIS  W.  HALSEY 

KDITOB  Of'"gBBAT  EPOCHS  IN  AMERICAN  HISTORY," 

"seeing  EUROPE  WITH  FAMOUS  AUTHORS," 

AUTHOB  OF  "the  OLD  NEW  TOBK  FBONTIEB,"  ETC. 


FUNK  &  WAGNALLS  COMPANY 

NEW  YORK  AND  LONDON 

1917 


Copyright,  1917,  by 

FUNK  &  WAGNALLS  COMPANY 

(Published  in  the  United  States  of  America) 


Copyright  Under  the  Articles  of  the  Copyright  Convention  of  the  Pan- 
American  RepubUcs  and  the  United  States,  August  11,  1910 


PubUshed  August,  1917 


CONTENTS 

VAOK 

I.  THE  COMING  OF  THE  FIVE  COMMISSIONS  1 

How  and  Why  They  Came 1 

Mr.  Balfour .    .  3 

M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Jofifre     ......  7 

The  Prince  of  Udine 11 

Baron  Moncheur 13 

Ambassador  Bakhmetieff 14 

Famous  Foreign  Visitors  of  Other  Years      ...  21 

n.  IN   WASHINGTON,   MOUNT   VERNON   AND 

RICHMOND       25 

Mr.  Balfour  in  Washington 25 

M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  in  Washington    .  32 

The  British  and  French  in  Mount  Vernon  ...  41 

M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  in  the  Senate   .     .  46 

M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  in  the  House    .     .  50 

Mr.  Balfour  in  the  House 53 

Mr.  BaKour  in  the  Senate 58 

Mr.  Balfour  in  Richmond 64 

The  Prince  of  Udine  in  Washington 72 

The  Prince  in  Mount  Vernon 74 

The  Prince  in  the  Senate 76 

The  Prince  and  Signor  Marconi  in  the  House   .     .  78 

Baron  Moncheur  in  Washington 85 

Baron  Moncheur  in  the  Senate 90 

Baron  Moncheur  in  the  House 93 

Mr.  Bakhmetieff  in  Washington 95 

Mr.  Bakhmetieff  in  the  House 101 

The  Belgians  and  Russians  in  Mount  Vernon     .  106 

Mr.  Bakhmetieff  in  the  Senate 109 

Rumanian  Commissioners  in  Washington    .     .     .  HI 


37223G 


iv  CONTENTS 

PAGB 

III.  IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH       113 

M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  in  Chicago     .     .  113 

In  Kansas  City 124 

In  St.  Louis 129 

At  Lincoln's  Tomb 135 

In  Philadelphia 140 

The  Italians  in  the  South  and  West 138 

The  Belgians  in  the  West  and  Far  West    .     .     .  145 

IV.  VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK   .......  147 

M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  at  the  Battery  and 

in  Broadway         147 

In  the  City  Hall 150 

In  Central  Park  and  in  Brooklyn 161 

At  Luncheon  at  the  Hotel  Astor 164 

At  Columbia  University .172 

At  Grant's  Tomb  and  at  the  Statue  of  Joan  of  Arc  179 
At  the  Public  Library  and  the  Metropolitan  Opera 

House 180 

M.  Viviani  at  a  Bar  Association  Luncheon  .    .    .  182 

Mr.  Balfour's  Arrival 188 

The  Waldorf  Dinner  to  the  French  and  British  .  193 

Mr.  BaKour  at  the  Chamber  of  Commerce    .    .  216 

Mr.  Balfour  at  a  Red  Cross  Benefit 232 

At  the  Cathedral  of  St.  John  the  Divine  and  at 

Sagamore  Hill 235 

The  Prince  of  Udine  in  New  York 236 

The  Mayor's  Dinner  at  the  Plaza 242 

A  Luncheon  by  the  Merchants'  Association    .     .  244 

A  Dinner  at  the  Waldorf 248 

At  Garibaldi's  House  on  Staten  Island   ....  246 

The  Last  Italian  Days 251 

The  Welcome  to  the  Russians 255 

An  Evening  Mass  Meeting  at  Carnegie  Hall    .     .  257 

Another  Day's  Festivities 260 


CONTENTS  V 

FAGB 

V.  IN   NEWBURGH  AND  WEST  POINT        .    .  262 

Marshal  Joffre's  Visit 262 

General  Bridges  at  West  Point 267 

VI.  IN  BOSTON  AND  IN  CANADIAN  CITIES   V  269 

Marshal  Joffre  in  Boston 269 

Marshal  Joffre  in  Montreal 270 

M.  Viviani  in  Ottawa 274 

M.  Viviani  in  Boston   .     , 286 

The  Prince  in  Boston 293 

VII.   LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    .  295 

The  Last  Two  Speeches  by  Mr.  Balfour  in  Wash- 
ington       295 

Mr.  Balfour  in  Toronto 306 

Mr.  Balfour  in  Ottawa 310 

Mr.  Balfour  in  Montreal 320 

Success  and  Purpose  of  the  Missions 337 

M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  in  Paris  Again    .  339 

Mr.  Balfour  reaches  London  Safely 342 

VIII.  THE  ARRIVAL  OF  AMERICAN  FORCES  IN 

ENGLAND  AND  FRANCE 345 

Our  First  Preparations  for  War 345 

General  Pershing  in  London  and  Paris    ....  346 
With  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  at  the  Cham- 
ber of  Deputies 352 

At  Napoleon's  Tomb  —  His  Sword  and  Grand 

Cross       357 

American  Regulars  reach  France 358 

Marshal  Joffre  Interviewed 360 

A  Great  Fourth  of  July  in  Paris 363 


A  PERSONAL  NOTE 

For  the  material  from  which  this  volume  was  prepared,  the 
compiler  has  been  particularly  indebted  to  the  following  publica- 
tions: The  Congressional  Record  and  the  CansidisLn.  Parliamentary 
Reports ;  the  New  York  Times,  New  York  Tribune,  New  York 
World,  New  York  Evening  Post,  New  York  Sun  and  New  York 
Evening  Sun;  the  Washington  Post;  the  Philadelphia  Public 
Ledger;  the  Chicago  Tribune  and  Chicago  Herald;  the  St.  Louis 
Globe-Democrat;  the  Kansas  City  Star;  the  Toronto  Globe;  the 
Montreal  Star;  the  Richmond  Times-Dispatch;  the  Columbia 
University  Quarterly;  Associated  Press  correspondence;  the  Lon- 
don Times  and  Morning  Post;  the  Paris  Temps  and  La  Victoire; 
and  the  Literary  Digest. 


I 

THE  COMING  OF  THE  FIVE  COMMISSIONS 

HOW  AND  WHY  THEY  CAME 

The  first  of  the  five  commissions  to  arrive  were  the  Brit- 
ish, headed  by  Mr.  Balfour,  and  the  French,  headed  by 
M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre,  the  respective  dates  of 
arrival  being  April  21  and  April  24,  1917.  They  had 
come  in  almost  immediate  response  to  the  declaration  by 
Congress  on  April  4  of  "a  state  of  war"  with  Germany. 
On  April  2  Congress  had  met  in  special  session  to  con- 
sider, with  a  view  to  grave  action,  our  newly  strained  rela- 
tions with  Germany.  Since  the  severing  of  diplomatic  rela- 
tions on  February  3,  conditions  had  steadily  become  more 
and  more  critical,  in  consequence  of  overt  acts  committed 
by  German  submarines  in  destroying  American  ships.  The 
declaration  that  "a  state  of  war''  existed  was  passed  in 
the  Senate  by  a  vote  of  28  to  6 ;  in  the  House  by  373  to  50. 
Seventeen  days  later  Mr.  Balfour  landed  in  America. 
Twenty  days  later  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  arrived. 

It  was  obvious  that  British  and  French  statesmen  had 
promptly  recognized  the  motive  and  the  determination  with 
which  this  country  had  entered  the  war.  News  of  the  action 
of  Congress  had  caused  among  them  profound  rejoicing. 
America  was  declared  to  have  acquired  a  pivotal  position 
in  the  war.  That  she  would  become  a  dominant  factor  in 
it  was  generally  believed.  This  was  largely  because  she 
would  come  to  the  work  fresh-handed,  and  because  she  had 
such  enormous  resources  in  men  and  money,  in  inventive 

1 


%  B^XFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

ability  and  in  manufacturing  facilities.  Whether  or  not  she 
desired  to  be  in  the  limelight,  that  position  would  now  be 
thrust  upon  her.  On  what  she  actually  did  in  war  activi- 
ties within  a  few  months  would  depend  her  position  in 
world  affairs  for  generations  to  come. 

A  great  storm  of  applause  was  evoked  in  the  British 
House  of  Commons  when  mention  was  first  made  of  the 
American  decision.  All  ranks  believed  that  the  President 
and  Congress  had  given  to  the  cause  of  democracy  an  im- 
petus that  would  enable  its  supporters  to  shorten  a  war 
which  was  rapidly  dragging  the  world  to  the  brink  of  ruin. 
To  the  French  our  decision  appeared  as  the  third  big  Allied 
occurrence  of  the  war,  the  Battle  of  the  Mame  being  the 
first;  the  Russian  revolution  the  second.  Our  action  was 
regarded  as  an  even  greater  factor  in  Allied  success  than 
the  stand  France  had  made  at  Verdun.  The  event  caused 
a  greater  sensation  in  Rome  than  any  other  since  the  be- 
ginning of  the  war.  Not  even  the  fall  of  Gorizia  had 
awakened  such  profound  interest.  Everybody  felt  that  it 
meant  the  greatest  moral  defeat  yet  sustained  by  the  Cen- 
tral Empires,  and  that  it  would  soon  be  followed  by  a  ma- 
terial defeat. 

April  20,  the  day  before  Mr.  Balfour  arrived,  had  been 
set  apart  in  London  as  "America  Day."  The  Stars  and 
Stripes  and  the  Union  Jack  on  that  day  fluttered  fra- 
ternally from  the  famous  flagstaff  at  the  top  of  the  Victoria 
Tower  of  the  Houses  of  Parliament  at  Westminster,  where 
no  flag  other  than  the  British  had  ever  before  been  unfurled. 
The  British  King  and  Queen,  attended  by  an  enormous 
crowd,  went  to  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  where  they  listened 
to  a  sermon  by  an  American  Bishop  who  chose  as  his 
text  Lincoln's  saying  that  ballots,  not  bullets,  are  the  true 
weapons  of  democracy.  "A  solemn  service  to  Almighty 
God  on  the  occasion  of  the  entry  of  the  United  States  of 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  FIVE  COMMISSIONS       3 

America  into  the  great  war  for  freedom"  was  the  official 
description  of  the  fmiction  at  St.  Paul's.  About  4,000  per- 
sons assembled  there,  among  them  leading  British  states- 
men, great  social  leaders  and  eminent  professional  men. 
Besides  Walter  H.  Page,  the  American  Ambassador,  a  large 
number  of  other  Americans  were  present,  including  several 
who,  in  Canadian  ranks,  had  served  at  the  western  front. 
There  were  also  official  representatives  of  Canada  and  other 
British  colonies,  together  with  the  diplomatic  corps  of  most 
of  the  Entente  Allies. 

In  Paris  the  Stars  and  Stripes  were  put  out  to  wave 
side  by  side  with  Allied  flags.  Premier  Ribot,  in  opening 
the  Chamber  of  Deputies,  read  a  formal  salutation  to  Amer- 
ica. Newspapers  got  out  their  largest  type  to  express  the 
general  rejoicing.  Great  interest  was  expressed  in  the 
possibility  of  an  American  expeditionary  force  soon  to  be 
seen  on  the  western  front  in  France — and  particularly  as 
to  an  expected  Roosevelt  division.  Genevieve  Vix,  a  popu- 
lar Paris  singer,  cabled  to  Colonel  Roosevelt  at  Oyster  Bay, 
asking  him  to  accept  an  American  flag  to  be  stitched  by 
women  of  France  and  carried  as  the  standard  of  the  first 
battalion  raised  under  his  command. 

MR.  BALFOUR 

Within  a  fortnight  after  the  declaration  of  "a  state  of 
war,"  newspapers  in  New  York  gave  out  rumors  that  emi- 
nent statesmen  and  soldiers  were  coming  to  this  country 
on  special  missions  from  the  Entente  Allies — ^the  first  hint 
the  public  had  of  these  historic  visits.  Among  the  names 
mentioned  were  the  Right  Honorable  Arthur  J.  Balfour, 
formerly  Prime  Minister  of  Great  Britain,  and  then  Secre- 
tary for  Foreign  Affairs;  M.  Rene  Viviani,  Prime  Minister 
of  France  when  the  war  began,  and  then  Minister  of  Jus- 


4  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

tice,  and  the  hero  of  the  Marne,  Marshal  Joffre.  The 
rumors  gave  rise  among  Americans  to  the  highest  expecta- 
tions, with  predictions  that  the  commissioners  would  re- 
ceive a  welcome  the  like  of  which  had  been  unknown  in 
this  country,  save,  perhaps,  in  the  case  of  Lafayette's  sec- 
ond visit,  in  1824-27.  Within  a  few  days  the  rumors  were 
well  authenticated,  though  nothing  definite  was  for  a  time 
made  known  as  to  when  or  where  the  commissioners  would 
arrive.  The  activity  of  German  submarines,  which  about 
this  time  reached  their  highest  point  of  intensified  and 
unrestricted  warfare,  combined  with  the  tragic  fate  of 
Lord  Kitchener,  off  the  Orkney  Isles,  in  the  spring  of  1916, 
while  on  board  ship  bound  for  Russia  on  a  mission  from 
Great  Britain,  had  led  to  the  imposition  of  absolute  se- 
crecy as  to  details.  It  was  not  until  April  21  that  any 
member  of  the  two  commissions  arrived  on  American  soil. 
Mr.  Balfour  and  his  associates  and  staff,  to  the  number  of 
perhaps  two  score,  landed  in  Halifax,  where  Mr.  Balfour 
issued  the  following  message  to  the  Canadian  people  for 
publication,  after  his  arrival  in  Washington: 

I  am  glad  that  owing  to  the  chances  of  war,  a  dip- 
lomatic mission  from  Great  Britain  to  the  United 
States  has  first  set  foot  upon  American  soil  in  Canada, 
and  that  it  should  fall  to  me,  a  Scot  by  birth,  as  are  so 
many  thousands  of  your  fellow-citizens,  to  bear  wit- 
ness to  the  heroism  and  the  patient  sacrifices  of  your 
sons  and  your  daughters.  The  roll  of  honor  of  the 
British  Empire  has  many  names  upon  it  which  kindle 
our  imagination,  and  in  the  mention  have  power  to 
knit  us  all  together.  Upon  that  roll  the  names  of 
Ypres  and  Vimy  Ridge  will  bear  witness  to  the  world 
through  history  that  when  the  cause  was  just  and 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  FIVE  COMMISSIONS       5 

the  peril  great,  Canada  would  spare  nothing  of  what 
in  peace  time  men  hold  dear. 

I  know  well  that  heroism  and  sacrifice  are  not  con- 
fined within  the  limits  of  the  battlefield.  Sir  Robert 
Borden  has  had  a  story  to  tell  in  Great  Britain  of 
effort,  prodigally  offered  to  the  imperial  cause  in  every 
township  from  ocean's  coast  to  ocean's  coast,  of  the 
prudent  counsels  of  provinces  and  their  statesmen  in 
matters  of  administration  and  finance,  of  the  con- 
trivance of  your  men  of  business,  of  the  munition 
work  that  your  men  and  women  have  performed. 
Finally,  but  not  least,  I  would  not  have  forgotten  in 
the  empire  the  service  of  Canada  to  the  work  of  the 
Red  Cross. 

You  have  combined  to  the  utmost  limits  of  your 
powers,  energies,  and  money  in  your  prosecution  of 
the  war.  In  times  of  reconstruction  such  as  these, 
they  form  the  only  foundation  upon  which  empires 
can  be  built  that  have  any  service  to  offer  to  man- 
kind. I  have  been  sent  upon  a  mission  to  your  neigh- 
boring State.  I  think  of  it  as  your  mission  as  well  as 
ours,  and  I  trust  that  a  representative  from  Canada 
will  join  me  in  Washington. 

The  ship  which  brought  over  the  British  Mission  was 
guarded  by  torpedo  boats  for  a  short  distance  from  the 
port  of  sailing,  but  no  sign  of  submarines  or  hostile  craft 
was  seen  anywhere  during  the  voyage.  The  commission- 
ers were  met  by  American  State  Department  officials  at 
Vanceboro,  Me.  For  five  days  before  Mr.  Balfour  arrived 
in  Halifax,  a  five-car  Government  train  had  been  standing 
with  steam  up  at  a  New  England  station.     On  receipt  of 


6  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

word  that  his  ship  had  arrived,  this  train  by  a  night  run 
crossed  the  State  of  Maine,  and  at  nine  in  the  morning 
reached  Vanceboro  on  the  frontier.  American  officials,  in- 
cluding representatives  of  the  army  and  navy  in  uniform, 
here  descended  from  their  train  in  a  dense  fog  to  a  dingy, 
deserted  little  station,  there  to  wait  for  the  arrival  of  Mr. 
Balfour  from  Halifax.  Two  hours  later  his  special  train 
brought  him  and  his  party  across  the  bridge  that  spans 
the  St.  Croix  River  at  Vanceboro,  a  bridge  which  in  the 
early  days  of  the  war  enemy  plotters  had  laid  plans  to 
blow  up. 

As  soon  as  Mr.  Balfour^s  train  had  halted,  Mr.  Breck- 
enridge  Long,  Third  Assistant  Secretary  of  State,  mounted 
the  rear  platform  of  the  observation  car  and  proceeded 
inside,  to  welcome  the  commission  formally  to  American 
soil.  Ten  minutes  afterwards  the  train  got  under  way  for 
Washington  by  way  of  Portland  and  New  York,  and 
guarded  as  perhaps  no  other  train  had  ever  been  guarded 
before  in  this  country.  At  all  bridges  and  tunnels  double 
protection  was  provided.  Every  mile  of  track  had  been 
gone  over  within  the  previous  twenty-four  hours.  No  de- 
tail that  could  betray  Vanceboro  as  the  place  of  meeting, 
or  the  route  of  travel  from  Halifax  to  Washington,  was 
allowed  to  become  public.  Boston  was  avoided  and  New 
York  entered  and  left  by  tunnels. 

There  was  no  flaw  in  the  welcome  that  Washington  on 
April  22  extended  officially  and  personally  to  Mr.  Balfour 
and  to  those  who  came  with  him.  At  3:10  o'clock  that 
afternoon  a  great  crowd  had  assembled  at  the  Union  Sta- 
tion, when  at  the  open  train  gate  appeared  a  tall,  slender 
man  of  almost  70,  with  silver  gray  hair  and  drooping  mus- 
tache, at  his  right  Sir  Cecil  Arthur  Spring-Rice,  the  British 
Ambassador;  at  his  left,  Robert  Lansing,  Secretary  of 
State.    The  crowd  cheered  with  spontaneous  enthusiasm  as 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  FIVE  COMMISSIONS        7 

Mr.  Balfour  passed  through  a  long  lane  of  police  to  the 
President's  room  at  the  opposite  side  of  the  station.  No 
guest  of  the  nation  had  ever  received  a  more  cordial  or 
whole-hearted  welcome  at  the  American  capital.  It  was 
all  the  more  emphatic  because  of  the  lack  of  any  formal 
preparations  for  it.  As  Mr.  Balfour  left  the  building,  he 
was  confronted  by  thousands  of  people  assembled  in  the 
great  plaza.  Along  Massachusetts  Avenue  and  Sixteenth 
Street,  extending  to  the  Franklin  McVeagh  residence,  which 
had  been  reserved  for  the  use  of  Mr.  Balfour  and  his  per- 
sonal staff,  the  streets  were  packed  with  people  waiting 
to  greet  him.  The  Union  Jack  was  flying  with  the  Stars 
and  Stripes  from  windows  and  from  the  hoods  of  motor 
cars  at  curbs  along  the  whole  route.  Washington  seldom 
gets  excited  over/ anything,  but  when  Mr.  Balfour  came  it 
was  different.  ±Iis  welcome  was  attended  by  one  continu- 
ous chorus  of  cheers^ 

M.  VIVIANI   AND  MARSHAL  JOFFBE 

The  French  Commission,  which  reached  Washington  a 
few  days  later,  was  headed  by  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal 
Joffre,  who,  as  the  hero  of  the  Marne  and  the  defender  of 
Latin  and  Anglo-Saxon  civilization  against  Teutonic  of 
the  type  known  as  Prussian  militarism,  was  destined  to  be 
remembered,  much  as  Charles  Martel  had  been  remembered 
for  his  victory  at  Tours.  To  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal 
Joffre  Washington  gave  a  tumultuous  welcome.  They  had 
landed  at  Hampton  Roads  on  April  24,  whence,  on  board 
the  President's  yacht  Mayflower,  they  had  gone  up  Chesa- 
peake Bay  to  Washington,  having  had  their  first  glimpse 
of  the  shores  of  America  that  morning  at  daylight.  Amer- 
ican naval  officials,  with  a  flotilla  of  destroyers,  had  met 
them  about  100  miles  at  sea,  a  former  French  passenger 


8  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

liner  having  brought  them  over.  After  signals  were  ex- 
changed, the  destroyers  reversed  their  course  and  escorted 
the  French  ship  to  the  Virginia  Capes.  Not  a  light  was 
shown  at  night.  The  vessels  knew  of  each  other's  presence 
only  by  the  phosphorescence  playing  about  their  propellers. 
At  dawn  they  fell  in  with  an  American  cruiser  which  led 
the  way  to  the  harbor  of  Hampton  Roads. 

Shortly  after  five  o'clock  that  morning  all  members  of 
the  commission  appeared  on  the  bridge  with  the  French 
Admiral.  The  day  was  magnificent,  with  hardly  a  ripple 
on  the  water.  As  the  Roads  came  into  view  Marshal  Joffre 
turned  to  an  American  naval  officer  serving  as  pilot  and 
said:  "What  a  wonderful  scene.  I  love  this  sunshine.  It 
reminds  me  of  my  own  country — the  south  of  France." 
Once  inside  the  harbor,  the  destroyers  slipped  away  to 
anchorages,  while  every  American  ship  in  the  harbor  hoisted 
to  its  masthead  the  French  tricolor,  and  a  band  played  "Hhe 
Star-Spangled  Banner."  Marshal  Joffre  and  the  military 
and  naval  members  of  the  commission  stood  at  salute  and 
civilian  members  bared  their  heads.  The  French  national 
anthem  was  played  and  saluted  in  similar  manner. 

The  French  visitors  were  at  once  made  to  see  in  Wash- 
ington that  our  traditional  affection  for  France  had  not 
waned.  M.  Viviani,  the  statesman,  and  Marshal  Joffre,  the 
soldier,  realized  before  they  went  to  bed  that  night  that 
the  cause  of  France  had  become  America's  cause  also.  It 
was  a  great  day  for  Washington,  surfeited  as  that  city 
had  been  with  spectacles.  The  day's  incidents  made  a 
deep  impression  even  on  staid  and  seasoned  veterans  of 
public  life,  long  used  to  patriotic  or  partizan  demonstra- 
tions. From  the  moment  when  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal 
Joffre  stepped  ashore  from  the  Mayflower  at  one  of  the 
great  naval  workshops  of  the  Government,  where  men  in 
jeans  were  busily  engaged  in  turning  out  huge  guns  for 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  FIVE  COMMISSIONS        9 

the  war,  they  found  themselves  among  enthusiastic  friends 
anxious  to  emphasize  the  stirring  truth  that  America  had 
gone  into  the  struggle  for  the  cause  of  democracy  and  with 
an  intention  of  seeing  it  through. 

Phlegmatic,  unemotional  Washington  shouted,  yelled  and 
cheered  with  a  fanaticism  that  before  might  have  been 
equaled  in  America  once,  but  only  once — at  the  time  of 
the  second  coming  of  Lafayette.  Through  crowded  streets 
at  midday  the  visitors  went  in  motors,  two  troops  of  Amer- 
ican cavalry  galloping  briskly  as  an  escort.  Secretary 
Lansing  rode  with  M.  Viviani  and  other  French  officials. 
Marshal  Joffre,  riding  with  Ambassador  Jusserand,  was  in 
full  dress  uniform,  easily  recognizable  because  of  the  many 
pictures  of  him  which  had  appeared  in  the  American  press. 
From  the  moment  when  they  left  the  May  flow  evj  the  dem- 
onstration was  one  of  uninterrupted  cheering.  Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue  was  packed  with  people  on  sidewalks  and  in 
automobiles  in  every  available  space.  People  shouted,  threw 
their  hats  in  the  air,  waved  handkerchiefs  and  clapped  hands 
in  a  noisy  enthusiasm  which,  with  the  blowing  of  whistles, 
the  tooting  of  horns  and  the  clanging  of  street-car  gongs, 
merited  description  as  a  royal,  an  extraordinary,  reception. 
It  was  a  tribute  not  alone  to  the  genius  of  Marshal  Joffre — 
but  a  greeting  to  France,  the  country  that  had  aided  Amer- 
ica when  she  was  in  need,  a  reflection  of  a  national  desire 
to  repay  in  some  measure  an  historic  debt.* 

Perhaps  the  great  decision  of  the  whole  war  had  been 
taken  in  the  last  days  of  August,  1914,  when,  with  armies 
still  unready.  General  Joffre,  facing  the  Germans  along  the 
line  of  the  Somme,  the  Oise  and  the  Meuse,  ordered  a  re- 
treat which  surrendered  Rheims,  St.  Quentin,  Amiens, 
Chalons  and  practically  all  of  northern  France,  to  the  in- 
vader.    Looking  beyond  the  moment,  General  Joffre  had 

*Tlie  New  York  Evening  Post. 


10  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

seen  that,  by  making  a  temporary  sacrifice,  he  might  ulti- 
mately win.  The  story  of  how  he  led  the  German  armies 
into  fatal  strategic  positions  between  Paris  and  Verdun, 
and,  having  led  them  there — having  led  them  beyond  their 
bases,  ahead  of  their  supplies — how  he  struck  them  when 
they  were  exhausted  with  the  strain  of  long  marches,  rolled 
them  back  and  narrowly  missed  destroying  them,  is  the 
story  of  probably  the  greatest  feat  in  modern  military  his- 
tory— the  victory  of  a  million  men,  ill-prepared  and  ill- 
organized,  who  had  already  been  frequently  defeated,  who 
had  fallen  back  for  one  hundred  miles  before  a  victorious 
army  of  more  than  a  million  and  a  half,  long  nourished  in 
the  tradition  of  their  invincibility,  and  who  had  been  heart- 
ened on  their  way  across  Belgium  and  northern  France  by 
victories  unequaled  in  history  since  Napoleonic  times.  The 
Battle  of  the  Marne  was  the  victory  of  smaller  numbers 
over  greater,  a  triumph  comparable  with  Valmy,  or  with 
Marathon,  the  one  a  victory  of  the  spirit,  the  other  a  tri- 
umph of  intelligence.  There  was  lacking  to  Marshal  Joffre 
the  numbers  and  the  resources  to  make  immediately  decisive 
his  victory  on  the  Marne,  but  what  was  now  happening  in 
France — ^in  the  spring  of  1917 — the  ebb  tide  of  German 
occupation — was  an  inevitable,  if  a  delayed,  consequence  of 
his  victory  at  the  Marne  in  1914.  The  German  blow  that 
was  to  crush  France  forever,  the  gigantic  thrust  that  was 
to  win  Teutonic  world  power,  was  blocked  by  General  Joffre 
between  Meaux  and  Vitry-le-Frangois.  Maunoury,  d'Es- 
perey,  Foch,  able  lieutenants  of  a  supreme  commander; 
Gallieni,  the  Governor  of  Paris;  Sarrail,  the  defender  of 
Verdim;  de  Castelnau,  the  savior  of  Nancy  and  later  of 
Verdun — all  these  did  their  part  and  to  them  enduring 
fame  is  assured,  but  to  Joffre  belongs  the  first  praise.^ 

1  Frank  H.  Simonds  in  the  New  York  Tribune. 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  FIVE  COMMISSIONS      11 

THE  PRINCE  OF  UDINE 

While  all  New  York  was  devoting  itself  to  the  entertain- 
ment of  the  British  and  French  envoys,  a  part  of  an  Ital- 
ian commission  quietly  slipped  into  New  York  unnoticed 
on  May  11  on  an  American  liner  and  was  soon  housed  at 
the  Waldorf-Astoria.  It  was  composed  of  some  of  the 
most  distinguished  men  in  Italy.  Enrico  Arlotta,  Minister 
of  Maritime  and  Railway  Transportation  in  the  Italian 
Cabinet,  headed  it.  Its  quiet  entrance  was  due  to  the  fact 
that  the  State  Department  had  not  been  definitely  advised 
of  its  coming.  It  slipped  off  to  Washington  next  day  as 
quietly  and  as  unexpectedly  as  it  had  arrived  in  New  York. 
It  had  studiously  avoided  publicity,  wishing  to  give  out  vir- 
tually nothing  for  publication  imtil  officially  received  in 
Washington. 

Others  of  Italy's  war  mission  reached  Washington  on 
May  23,  headed  by  Ferdinando  di  Savoja,  Prince  of  Udine. 
The  Prince  being  a  member  of  the  Italian  reigning  house, 
the  Italian  mission  in  personnel  outranked  that  of  either 
Great  Britain  or  France.  Secretary  Lansing  and  officials 
of  the  State  Department  met  the  visitors  at  the  railroad 
station.  Joseph  Leiter's  home,  on  Du  Pont  Circle,  in  the 
heart  of  the  official  residence  district,  was  placed  at  their 
disposal.  This  house,  as  the  home  of  the  late  Mrs.  Levi  Z. 
Leiter,  had  been  the  scene  of  many  notable  social  activities. 
Besides  the  Prince  of  Udine  and  Enrico  Arlotta,  the  mis- 
sion included  Guglielmo  Marconi,  the  inventor. 

The  choice  of  the  Prince  of  Udine  as  head  of  the  Com- 
mission had  more  significance  than  appeared  in  the  fact 
that  he  was  a  member  of  the  royal  family.  Though  young 
— he  had  just  turned  33 — he  was  no  merely  decorative  repre- 
sentative of  the  Italian  throne.  He  was  known  as  an  able 
and  dashing  officer,  and  had  come  to  this  country  after 


12  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

stepping  from  the  deck  of  a  destroyer  in  the  Adriatic,  where 
his  flotilla  had  been  close  on  the  trail  of  Austrian  U-boats 
since  the  war  began.  The  Prince  had  achieved  his  captaincy 
and  the  silver  Cross  of  Valor  for  extricating  his  own  craft 
from  a  pack  of  enemy  U-boats  and  then,  after  summoning 
his  flotilla,  putting  them  to  flight.  He  had  been  awarded  the 
French  Cross  of  War  for  coming  to  the  rescue  of  and  driv- 
ing off  the  enemy  from  a  French  squadron  of  destroyers. 
He  had  scattered  an  attack  from  a  fleet  of  aeroplanes,  evad- 
ing and  dodging  by  swift  use  of  the  wheel  twelve  bombs 
dropped  in  the  closest  proximity  to  his  vessel.  When  the 
war  broke  out,  he  was  in  command  of  a  torpedo  boat  flo- 
tilla  in  the  Adriatic,  as  a  lieutenant,  and  for  months  he 
went  along  performing  this  duty  with  little  prominence  and 
less  glory.  It  was  a  particularly  difficult  service,  since  the 
eastern  Adriatic  coast  has  many  harbors,  cities  and  islands, 
from  which  to  launch  attacks.  The  Italians  had  no  advan- 
tages with  which  to  meet  these  except  skill  and  courage. 

The  Prince  was  the  son  of  the  Duke  of  Genoa,  great- 
uncle  of  the  King,  and  was  now  the  civil  regent  of  Italy. 
King  Victor  Emmanuel  had  left  for  the  front  as  soon  as 
his  country  entered  the  war,  and  had  delegated  his  admin- 
istrative functions  to  the  Duke.  The  Prince's  title  typified 
the  Italian  objective  in  the  war,  since  Udine  is  the  capital 
of  the  province  of  Fruili,  which  Austria  cut  in  two  in  1866, 
keeping  that  part  which  was  so  long  known  as  "Italia  Ir- 
redenta." For  "Italia  Irredenta"  primarily  the  people  had 
made  war.  When  created  by  the  King  the  Prince  of  Udine, 
the  title  was  meant  to  be  a  reminder  to  the  Italian  people 
that  "Italia  Irredenta"  had  not  been  forgotten.  In  effect 
(assuming  that  France  had  remained  an  empire)  it  was 
as  if  France  had  sent  as  the  head  of  her  war  commission  to 
this  country  a  "prince  of  Alsace-Lorraine."  * 

*The  New  York  Evening  Sun. 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  FIVE  COMMISSIONS      13 

The  second  man  in  rank  in  the  commission  was  Enrico 
Arlotta,  Minister  of  Transportation,  a  business  man  and 
director  of  the  General  Bank  of  Naples,  one  of  the  three 
most  important  banks  of  issue  in  Italy.  He  was  vice- 
president  of  the  Chamber  of  Deputies,  to  which  he  had 
belonged  since  1897.  Next  to  Signor  Arlotta  in  precedence 
was  the  Marquis  Luigi  Borsarelli  di  Rifreddo,  Under  Secre- 
tary of  State  for  Foreign  Affairs,  a  banker  of  Piedmont, 
and  one  of  Italy's  wealthiest  men.  As  Under  Secretary  for 
Foreign  Affairs,  he  had  been  in  daily  contact  with  all  ques- 
tions of  the  war  touching  the  relations  of  Italy  and  her 
Allies.  The  fourth  member  was  the  inventor,  Guglielmo 
Marconi,  a  Senator  of  the  Kingdom,  and  commander  in 
the  Royal  Navy.  He  had  been  of  much  service  to  his 
country  in  further  perfecting  wireless  telegraphy  during 
the  war.  Signor  Marconi  was  in  America  when  the  con- 
flict began  and  returned  to  enter  the  Italian  army  as  a 
lieutenant.  With  the  increase  in  the  submarine  menace, 
he  had  been  transferred  to  the  navy,  where  he  brought  the 
wireless  to  greater  effectiveness  against  U-boats. 

BARON   MONCHEUB 

The  Belgian  Commission  of  five  members  arrived  in  New 
York  on  June  16  and  next  day  went  to  Washington  to 
present  credentials  and  make  official  calls.  They  had  had 
a  pleasant,  uneventful  voyage,  their  steamship  nowhere 
annoyed  by  submarines.  The  commission  was  headed  by  a 
distinguished  diplomat  formerly  the  Belgian  Minister  to 
this  country.  Baron  Ludovic  Moncheur,  who  married  in 
1902  Miss  Charlotte  Clayton,  daughter  of  Gen.  Powell  Clay- 
ton, then  the  American  Minister  to  Mexico.  Another  of 
the  commission  was  Major  Osterreith,  a  giant  of  six  feet, 
and  weighing  upward  of  300  pounds,  who  brought  with  him 


14  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

a  rat  catcher  from  the  trenches — a  wire-haired  fox  terrier 
named  Nellie,  who  had  "done  her  bit"  in  that  she  had 
killed  hundreds  of  big  rats  that  had  made  the  lives  of 
trench  fighters  miserable  and  twice  been  wounded  by  shrap- 
nel. At  the  pier  in  New  York  the  commissioners  were  greet- 
ed by  Assistant  Secretary  of  State  Breckenridge  Long,  and 
at  the  station  in  Washington  by  Secretary  Lansing,  Coun- 
sellor Polk  and  Assistant  Secretary  Phillips  of  the  State 
Department.  From  the  station  they  were  escorted  by  two 
companies  of  cavalry  to  the  home  of  Larz  Anderson,  a  for- 
mer Minister  to  Belgium,  which  was  to  be  their  head- 
quarters. 

It  was  understood  that  the  Belgian  commission  expected 
to  confine  their  inquiries  largely  to  ultimate  peace  ques- 
tions rather  than  to  any  immediate  war  needs,  since  the 
United  States  soon  after  its  entrance  into  the  war  had  taken 
over  the  entire  cost  of  the  relief  in  Belgium,  the  Treasury 
Department  in  May  advancing  $7,500,000  per  month  for  this 
purpose.  The  Belgians  came,  not  to  arrange  for  new  armies, 
or  munitions,  or  for  vast  war  loans,  but  mainly  to  express 
the  gratitude  of  their  stricken  country.  Emotional  and 
sympathetic  interest  was  aroused  in  the  country  by  their 
coming.  They  were  the  envoys  of  a  brave  little  nation 
which  had  been  first  to  withstand  the  invader,  a  dauntless 
people  who  had  risen  promptly  in  defense  of  their  liberty, 
though  the  cost  of  their  courage  was  the  ruin  of  their 
land.  Their  presence  enabled  Americans  to  visualize  vividly 
Liege  and  Namur,  Louvain  and  Termonde. 

AMBASSADOR  BAKHMETIEFF 

The  Commissioners  from  Russia  arrived  by  way  of  the 
Pacific,  their  train  from  the  coast  reaching  Washington  on 
June  19.    They  had  been  met  at  Chicago  by  Breckenridge 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  FIYE  COMMISSIONS      15 

Long.  In  Washington  they  were  met  by  Secretary  Lansing 
and  other  officials,  and  taken  to  the  home  of  David  Hennen 
Jennings,  on  Sheridan  Circle,  escorted  by  two  troops  of 
United  States  cavalry,  the  route  being  by  way  of  the  Cap- 
itol grounds,  Pennsylvania  Avenue  and  Sixteenth  Street. 
Washington  opened  its  arms  with  warmth  and  enthusiasm 
to  this  mission,  which  was  headed  by  the  new  Ambassador, 
Boris  Bakhmetieff.  They  were  escorted  through  streets  lined 
with  cheering  people  and  honking  automobiles.  It  was  a 
welcome  meant  to  be  expressive  of  the  country's  response 
to  the  democratic  upheaval  that  had  taken  place  in  Russia. 
The  commissioners  presented  an  impressive  sight  as  they 
alighted  from  the  train,  several  being  in  Russian  uniform 
of  khaki  coat,  blue  trousers  and  black  knee  boots.  Since 
the  retirement  of  the  former  Ambassador  George  Bakh- 
metieff, who  was  not  related  to  the  head  of  the  present 
mission,  the  Russian  Embassy  had  been  closed,  but  now 
open  again,  it  was  decorated  with  the  Russian  commercial 
flag  of  horizontal  white,  blue  and  red,  and  with  the  Stars 
and  Stripes. 

The  coming  of  the  Russian  mission  promised  to  have  an 
important  influence  in  bringing  order  and  efficiency  out 
of  the  rather  chaotic  state  into  which  administrative  affairs 
in  Russia  had  been  plunged  by  the  Revolution,  and  which 
for  weeks  had  caused  great  concern  among  the  Entente 
Allies.  Already  the  United  States  had  taken  steps  to  aid 
in  righting  matters,  first  by  making  Russia  a  large  loan 
with  which  to  meet  pressing  obligations,  and  then  by  send- 
ing a  mission  to  Petrograd  with  Elihu  Root  at  the  head 
as  Embassador  Extraordinary  and  with  General  Scott,  Chief 
of  Staff  of  our  Army,  as  another  member.  While  the  Rus- 
sian mission  was  on  its  way  from  the  Pacific  Coast  to  Wash- 
ington, Mr.  Root,  whom  it  had  passed  somewhere  on  its 
journey  of  five  weeks,  had  made  in  Petrograd  an   elo- 


16  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

quent,  if  not  historic,  address  to  the  Council  of  Ministers, 
as  follows: 

Mr.  President  and  Members  of  the  Council  of  Min- 
isters: The  mission  for  which  I  have  the  honor  to 
speak  is  charged  by  the  Government  and  people  of 
the  United  States  of  America  with  a  message  to  the 
Government  and  people  of  Russia.  The  mission  comes 
from  a  democratic  republic.  Its  members  are  com- 
missioned and  instructed  by  a  President  who  holds 
his  high  office  as  Chief-Executive  of  more  than  100,- 
000,000  free  people  by  virtue  of  popular  election, 
in  which  more  than  18,000,000  votes  were  freely  cast 
and  fairly  counted  pursuant  to  law,  by  universal, 
equal,  direct  and  secret  suffrage. 

For  140  years  our  people  have  been  struggling 
with  the  hard  problems  of  self-government.  With 
many  shortcomings,  many  mistakes,  many  imperfec- 
tions, we  still  have  maintained  order  and  respect  for 
law,  individual  freedom  and  national  independence. 
Under  the  security  of  our  own  laws  we  have  grown 
in  strength  and  prosperity.  But  we  value  our  free- 
dom more  than  wealth.  We  love  liberty,  and  we 
cherish  above  all  our  possessions  the  ideals  for  which 
our  fathers  fought  and  suffered  and  sacrificed  that 
America  might  be  free. 

We  believe  in  the  competence  of  the  power  of  de- 
mocracy and  in  our  heart  of  hearts  abides  faith  in  the 
coming  of  a  better  world  in  which  the  humble  and  op- 
pressed of  all  lands  may  be  lifted  up  by  freedom  to 
a  heritage  of  justice  and  equal  opportunity. 

The  news  of  Russia's  new  found  freedom  brought 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  FIVE  COMMISSIONS      17 

to  America  universal  satisfaction  and  joy.  Prom  all 
the  land  sympathy  and  hope  went  out  to  the  new  sister 
in  the  circle  of  democracies.  And  the  mission  is  sent 
to  express  that  feeling. 

The  American  democracy  sends  to  the  democracy 
of  Eussia  a  greeting  of  sympathy,  friendship,  brother- 
hood, Godspeed.  Distant  America  knows  little  of 
the  special  conditions  of  Russian  life  which  must 
give  form  to  the  government  and  laws  which  you  are 
about  to  create.  As  we  have  developed  our  institu- 
tions to  serve  the  needs  of  our  national  character  and 
life,  so  we  assume  that  you  will  develop  your  insti- 
tutions to  serve  the  needs  of  Russian  character  and 
life. 

As  we  look  across  the  sea  we  distinguish  no  party, 
no  class.  We  see  great  Russia  as  a  whole,  as  one 
mighty,  striving,  aspiring  democracy.  We  know  the 
self-control,  essential  kindliness,  strong  common  sense, 
courage  and  noble  idealism  of  the  Russian  character. 
We  have  faith  in  you  all.  We  pray  for  God's  bless- 
ing upon  you  all. 

We  believe  you  will  solve  your  problems,  that  you 
will  maintain  your  liberty,  and  that  our  two  great 
nations  will  march  side  by  side  in  the  triumphant 
progress  of  democracy  until  the  old  order  everywhere 
has  passed  away  and  the  world  is  free. 

One  fearful  danger  threatens  the  liberty  of  both 
nations.  The  armed  forces  of  a  military  autocracy 
are  at  the  gates  of  Russia  and  the  Allies.  The  tri- 
umph of  German  arms  will  mean  the  death  of  liberty 
in  Russia.    No  enemy  is  at  the  gates  of  America,  but 


18  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

America  has  come  to  realize  that  the  triumph  of  Ger- 
man arms  means  the  death  of  liberty  in  the  world; 
that  we  who  love  liberty  and  would  keep  it  must  fight 
for  it,  and  fight  for  it  now  when  the  free  democracies 
of  the  world  may  be  strong  in  union,  and  not  delay 
until  they  may  be  beaten  down  separately  in  succes- 
sion. 

So  America  sends  another  message  to  Russia — ^that 
we  are  going  to  fight,  and  have  already  begun  to  fight, 
for  your  freedom  equally  with  our  own,  and  we  ask 
you  to  fight  for  our  freedom  equally  with  yours.  We 
would  make  your  cause  ours  and  our  cause  yours,  and 
with  a  common  purpose  and  mutual  helpfulness  of  a 
firm  alliance  make  sure  of  victory  over  our  common 
foe. 

You  will  recognize  your  own  sentiments  and  pur- 
poses in  the  words  of  President  Wilson  to  the  Ameri- 
can Congress  when  on  the  second  of  April  last  he 
advised  a  declaration  of  war  against  Germany.  He 
said: 

**We  are  accepting  this  challenge  of  hostile  pur- 
pose because  we  know  that  in  such  a  Government  (the 
German  Government)  following  such  methods  we  can 
never  have  a  friend;  and  that  in  the  presence  of  its 
organized  power,  always  lying  in  wait  to  accomplish 
we  know  not  what  purpose,  there  can  be  no  assured 
security  for  the  democratic  governments  of  the  world. 

**  We  are  now  about  to  accept  the  gage  of  battle  with 
this  natural  foe  to  liberty  and  shall,  if  necessary, 
spend  the  whole  force  of  the  nation  to  check  and  nul- 
lify its  pretensions  and  its  power.    We  are  glad,  now 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  FIVE  COMMISSIONS      19 

that  we  see  the  facts  with  no  veil  of  false  pretense 
about  them,  to  fight  thus  for  the  ultimate  peace  of 
the  world  and  for  the  liberation  of  its  peoples,  the 
German  peoples  included;  for  the  rights  of  nations, 
great  and  small,  and  the  privilege  of  men  everywhere 
to  choose  their  way  of  life  and  of  obedience. 

*  *  The  world  must  be  made  safe  for  democracy.  Its 
peace  must  be  planted  upon  the  tested  foundations  of 
political  liberty.  We  have  no  selfish  ends  to  serve. 
We  desire  no  conquest,  no  dominion.  We  seek  no  in- 
demnities for  ourselves,  no  material  compensation  for 
the  sacrifices  we  shall  freely  make.  We  are  but  one 
of  the  champions  of  the  rights  of  mankind.  We  shall 
be  satisfied  when  those  rights  have  been  made  as  se- 
cure as  the  faith  and  the  freedom  of  nations  can  make 
them.'' 

And  you  will  see  the  feeling  toward  Russia  with 
which  America  has  entered  the  great  war  in  another 
clause  of  the  same  address.  President  Wilson  further 
declared : 

**Does  not  every  American  feel  that  assurance  has 
been  added  to  our  hope  for  the  future  peace  of  the 
world  by  the  wonderful  and  heartening  things  that 
have  been  happening  within  the  last  few  weeks  in 
Russia?  Russia  was  known  by  those  who  knew  her 
best  to  have  been  always  in  fact  democratic  at  heart 
in  all  the  vital  habits  of  her  thought,  in  all  the  inti- 
mate relationships  of  her  people  that  spoke  their  nat- 
ural instinct,  their  habitual  attitude  toward  life.  The 
autocracy  that  crowned  the  summit  of  her  political 
structure,  long  as  it  had  stood  and  terrible  as  was 


20  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

the  reality  of  its  power,  was  not  in  fact  Russian  in 
origin,  character  or  purpose,  and  now  it  has  been 
shaken  off  and  the  great,  generous  Russian  people 
have  been  added,  in  all  their  native  majesty  and 
might,  to  the  forces  that  are  fighting  for  freedom 
in  the  world,  for  justice  and  for  peace.  Here  is  a  fit 
partner  for  a  league  of  honor/' 

That  partnership  of  honor  in  the  great  struggle  for 
human  freedom,  the  oldest  of  the  great  democracies, 
now  seeks  in  fraternal  union  with  the  youngest,  prac- 
tical and  specific  methods  and  the  possibilities  of  our 
Allies'  cooperation,  the  members  of  the  mission  would 
be  glad  to  discuss  with  the  members  of  the  Govern- 
ment of  Russia. 

That  the  conference  held  here,  as  well  as  the  one  which 
the  Root  commission  was  having  at  Petrograd,  would  re- 
move all  prospects  of  a  separate  peace  between  Russia  and 
Germany  was  the  earnest  hope,  not  only  of  President  Wil- 
son and  his  advisers,  but  of  authorities  in  all  the  Allied 
capitals. 

Every  arrangement  was  made  in  Washington  to  ac- 
cord the  visitors  all  possible  honors.  Officials  hoped  that 
during  the  conferences  plans  of  cooperation  could  be 
worked  out  between  the  two  governments  that  would  make 
possible  offensive  military  operations  by  the  Russians  sooner 
than  hitherto  anticipated.  A  general  offensive  on  all  fronts 
at  this  time,  it  was  felt,  would  be  of  tremendous  advantage 
to  the  Allies.  The  dethronement  of  King  Constantine  of 
Greece,  and  the  military  maneuvers  which  had  apparently 
since  then  been  carried  out  by  the  Entente  forces  in  Mace- 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  FIVE  COMMISSIONS      21 

donia,  seemed  to  have  paved  the  way  for  an  allied  drive 
into  Serbia. 

Under  the  original  plans  of  the  Allies  such  a  move- 
ment was  to  have  been  started  simultaneously  with  a  drive 
through  Transylvania  by  the  Russians  from  the  northeast, 
the  combined  movements  having  in  view  a  nipping  in  two 
of  the  line  of  communications  between  Berlin  and  Constan- 
tinople. Plans  of  this  sort,  however,  were  frustrated  late  in 
1916  by  the  collapse  of  the  Rumanians  and  by  pro-German 
intrigues  in  the  Czar's  court,  which  brought  about  a  break- 
down in  the  Russian  supply  system  after  General  BrusilofPs 
brilliant  offensive  early  in  1916. 

FAMOUS  FOREIGN  VISITORS  OP  OTHER  TEARS 

The  five  commissions  in  coming  here  had  made  a  new  de- 
parture in  the  world's  history.  The  subject  about  which 
they  were  to  confer  was  not  how  to  apportion  among  their 
own  states  conquered  territory,  but  how  to  restore  terri- 
tory to  its  original  owners  and  how  to  make  mankind  se- 
cure in  a  long  spell  of  peace.  In  the  history  of  the  United 
States  there  had  been  no  precedent  for  the  visits,  nothing 
that  resembled  them  even  remotely.  Of  all  distinguished 
Europeans  coming  here,  the  most  had  come  as  tourists  or 
sight-seers.  One  or  two  had  come  for  political  purposes, 
but  none  came  vested  with  actual  authority,  or  as  officially 
representing  a  nation  that  had  sent  him.  Two  men,  each 
of  whom  afterward  became  King  of  England,  had  been 
here,  but  they  came  under  widely  different  circumstances. 
William  IV,  as  a  young  man,  yet  uncrowned,  came  to  help 
conquer  us  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  narrowly  escaped  a 
longer  stay,  for  sincere  efforts  were  made  to  capture  him. 
Edward  VII  came  as  a  boy,  but  only  to  see  the  country 
as  part  of  his  education  j  he  had  a  reception  that  is  still 


22  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

memorable  in  our  annals.  Eminent  statesmen  had  been 
here,  the  most  eminent  of  all,  probably,  Li  Hung  Chang. 
Of  English  statesmen,  the  most  noted  was  probably  Jo- 
seph Chamberlain,  but  he  came  on  no  errand  of  pubUc 
significance.  One  who  was  afterwards  to  become  King  of 
the  French  came  in  Louis  Philippe,  but  he  made  his  visit 
as  a  political  refugee,  and  so  afterward  did  Jerome  Bona- 
parte. A  contemporary  of  both,  and  greater  than  either, 
was  Talleyrand,  but  he  came  before  he  was  famous,  and 
merely  as  a  refugee  from  the  Reign  of  Terror.  One  who 
was  destined  for  the  French  throne,  but  never  ascended  it, 
the  Prince  de  Joinville,  was  in  the  country  twice;  once  as 
a  part  of  his  education;  twenty  years  later  as  an  officer  on 
McClellan's  staff,  where  also  served  another  royal  Prince 
and  possible  King,  the  Comte  de  Paris.  It  was  curious  to 
remember  that  Count  Zeppelin  had  been  here  as  an  ob- 
server of  the  Civil  War,  and  that  Garibaldi  had  fled  to  this 
country  during  an  intermission  between  Italian  defeat  and 
victory,  living  in  simplicity  on  Staten  Island,  where  he 
made  a  livelihood  by  making  candles. 

Besides  these  were  other  old-world  celebrities,  famous  or 
notorious,  who  came  for  safety,  or  to  see  the  country,  and 
some  few  on  political  errands.  Louis  Kossuth  arrived  in 
1851  for  the  purpose  of  enlisting  our  aid  for  Hungary, 
but  all  he  received  was  banquets  and  compliments.  The 
visit  of  the  Grand  Duke  Alexis  had  a  political  flavor,  but 
it  was  only  an  incident  in  a  rapprochement  between  us 
and  Russia  that  had  grown  out  of  Russia's  endeavor  to 
secure  this  country  against  European  intervention  during 
the  Civil  War.  When  Prince  Henry  of  Prussia  came  he 
was  on  an  ostensibly  social  errand,  but  really  on  a  faintly 
political  one.  The  German  Emperor  had  hoped  that  to 
honor  us  with  a  visit  from  his  brother  might  make  us  well- 
disposed  toward  future  German  movements  on  the  Conti- 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  FIVE  COMMISSIONS      23 

nent,  and  was  naturally  annoyed  to  find  his  labor  fruit- 
less. We  sought,  in  our  uncouth  way,  to  give  the  Prince  a 
good  time,  but  remained  averse  to  the  objects  of  his  im- 
perial brother.  None  of  these  visits,  however,  offered  the 
least  opportunity  for  a  comparison  with  the  visits  of  1917 — 
not 'even  the  visit  of  Lafayette  in  1823-25,  which  to  most 
American  minds  was  recalled  when  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal 
Joffre  arrived.  But  there  was  no  political  significance  in 
Lafayette^s  visit.  It  was  merely  personal  and  symbolical.^ 
In  the  visits  of  1917  was  seen  the  burning  away  of  old 
distrusts  and  hatreds  among  once  hostile  peoples,  now 
banded  together  in  a  spiritual,  as  well  as  a  military,  alli- 
ance against  the  Central  Powers.  Great  Britain  and  France 
had  forgotten  their  ancient  feuds,  Great  Britain  and  Russia 
their  territorial  jealousies,  Russia  and  Japan  their  quarrels 
in  Asia,  while  the  United  States,  brushing  aside  old  wrongs 
and  recent  suspicions,  had  stepped  into  line  beside  Great 
Britain  and  Japan  in  a  great  alliance  whose  dominant 
purpose  was  to  make  the  world  "safe  for  democracy."  As 
visible  symbols  of  this  new  spirit  of  international  brother- 
hood among  former  foes  had  been  seen  for  almost  three 
years  the  flags  of  the  Entente  Allies  flying  side  by  side  in 
foreign  capitals,  but  now  was  seen  the  perhaps  stranger 
sight  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes  flying  beside  the  XJnion  Jack 
above  the  Parliament  Buildings  at  Westminstei*,  and  at 
Ottawa,  in  Canada,  and  beside  the  Tricolor  on  the  Eiffel 
Tower,  in  Paris.^  Some  words  Mr.  Balfour  had  uttered 
twenty-one  years  before,  were  recalled  to  mind  at  this 
time  and  widely  read.  Addressing  the  British  Parliament 
in  1896,  on  the  tense  situation  then  existing  between  Vene- 
zuela and  British  Guiana,  he  had  uttered  this  startlingly 
prophetic  sentence: 

1  The  New  York  Times. 
'The  Literary  Digest. 


24  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

It  cannot  be  but  that  those  whose  national  roots 
go  down  into  the  same  past  as  ours,  who  share  our 
language,  our  literature,  our  laws,  our  religion, 
everything  that  makes  a  nation  great — it  cannot  be 
but  that  a  time  will  come  when  they  will  feel  that  we 
and  they  have  a  common  duty  to  perform,  a  common 
office  to  fulfill,  among  the  nations  of  the  world. 


n 

IN  WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND 

MR.    BALFOUR    IN    WASHINGTON 

Unable  for  diplomatic  reasons  to  grant  a  regular  inter- 
view with  the  press  before  presenting  himself  to  President 
Wilson,  Mr.  Balfour,  after  reaching  Washington,  consented 
on  April  22  to  give  out  for  publication  a  few  words  as  to 
his  general  hopes  for  the  conference  and  the  fundamental 
purposes  behind  it,  as  follows : 

All  will  agree  that  my  first  duty  as  head  of  a  dip- 
lomatic mission  is  to  pay  my  respects  to  the  head  of 
the  State  to  which  I  have  been  sent,  and  no  public 
expression  of  opinion  on  points  of  policy  would,  I 
think,  be  useful  or  even  tolerable  until  I  have  had  the 
honor  of  conferring  with  your  President  and  learning 
his  views.  I  have  not  come  here  to  make  speeches  or 
indulge  in  interviews,  but  to  do  what  I  can  to  make 
cooperation  easy  and  effective  between  those  who 
are  striving  with  all  their  power  to  bring  about  a 
lasting  peace  by  the  only  means  that  can  secure  it, 
namely,  a  successful  war. 

Without,  however,  violating  the  rule  I  have  just 
laid  down,  there  are  two  things  which  I  may  permit 
myself  to  say :  One  on  my  own  behalf,  the  other  on 
behalf  of  my  countrymen  in  general. 

23 


26  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

On  my  own  behalf  let  me  express  the  deep  gratifi- 
cation I  feel  at  being  connected  in  any  capacity  what- 
ever with  events  which  associate  our  countries  in  a 
common  effort  for  a  great  ideal. 

On  behalf  of  my  countrymen,  let  me  express  our 
gratitude  for  all  that  the  citizens  of  the  United  States 
of  America  have  done  to  mitigate  the  lot  of  those  who, 
in  the  allied  countries,  have  suffered  from  the  cruelties 
of  the  most  deliberately  cruel  of  all  wars.  To  name 
no  others,  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Gerard  to  alleviate  the 
condition  of  British  and  other  prisoners  of  war  in 
Germany  and  the  administrative  genius  which  Mr. 
Hoover  has  ungrudgingly  devoted  to  the  relief  of  the 
unhappy  Belgians  and  French  in  the  territories  still 
in  enemy  occupation,  will  never  be  forgotten,  while 
an  inexhaustible  stream  of  charitable  effort  has  sup- 
plied medical  and  nursing  skill  to  the  service  of  the 
wounded  and  the  sick. 

These  are  the  memorable  doings  of  a  beneficent  neu- 
trality. But  the  days  of  neutrality  are,  I  rejoice  to 
think,  at  an  end,  and  the  first  page  is  being  turned  in 
a  new  chapter  in  the  history  of  mankind. 

Your  President,  in  a  most  apt  and  vivid  phrase,  has 
proclaimed  that  the  world  must  be  made  safe  for 
democracy.  Democracies,  wherever  they  are  to  be 
found,  and  not  least  the  democracies  of  the  British 
Empire,  will  hail  the  pronouncement  as  a  happy 
augury. 

That  self-governing  communities  are  not  to  be 
treated  as  negligible  simply  because  they  are  small, 
that   the  ruthless  domination  of  one  unscrupulous 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      27 

power  imperils  the  future  of  civilization  and  the  lib- 
erties of  mankind,  are  truths  of  political  ethics  which 
the  bitter  experiences  of  war  are  burning  into  the 
souls  of  all  freedom-loving  peoples.  That  this  great 
people  should  have  thrown  themselves  whole-heartedly 
into  this  mighty  struggle,  prepared  for  all  the  efforts 
and  sacrifices  that  may  be  required  to  win  success  for 
this  most  righteous  cause,  is  an  event  at  once  so  happy 
and  so  momentous  that  only  the  historian  of  the  fu- 
ture will  be  able,  as  I  believe,  to  measure  its  true  pro- 
portions. 

After  he  had  been  formally  presented  to  President  Wil- 
son, Mr.  Balfour,  on  April  24,  permitted  the  newspaper 
correspondents  to  be  presented  to  him.  When  the  intro- 
ductions were  completed,  he  made  the  following  address: 

Gentlemen,  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  com- 
ing here  to-day  and  giving  me  the  opportunity  of  ex- 
pressing to  you  personally,  and  through  you  to  the 
great  American  public,  how  very  deeply  we,  who  be- 
long to  this  mission  sent  from  Britain,  value  the  kind- 
ness, the  enthusiasm,  the  warmth  of  welcome  which  we 
have  received  in  this  capital  city  of  the  United  States. 
All  our  hearts  are  gratified  and  touched  personally. 
We  are  even  more  deeply  touch  by  it  as  being  the 
outward  and  visible  manifestation  of  sympathetic 
emotion  in  carrying  out  and  responding  to  a  great 
call,  which  is  the  real  security  for  our  success. 

No  man  who  has  had  the  opportunity  which  I  have 
enjoyed  in  the  last  few  days  of  seeing,  hearing,  and 
talking  to  leading  members  of  your  State  can  for  one 


28  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

moment  doubt  the  full  determination  of  the  Ameri- 
can people  to  throw  themselves  into  the  greatest  con- 
flict which  has  ever  been  waged  in  this  world.  I  do 
not  suppose  that  it  is  possible  for  you — I  am  sure  it 
would  not  be  possible  for  me,  were  I  in  your  place — 
to  realize  in  detail,  in  concrete  detail,  all  that  the  war 
means  to  those  who  have  been  engaged  in  it  for  now 
two  years  and  a  half.  That  is  a  feeling  which  comes, 
and  can  only  come,  by  actual  experience.  We  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Atlantic  have  been  living  in  an  at- 
mosphere of  war  since  August,  1914,  and  you  cannot 
move  about  the  streets,  you  cannot  go  about  your  daily 
business,  even  if  your  affairs  be  disassociated  with  the 
war  itself,  without  having  evidences  of  the  war 
brought  to  your  notice  every  moment. 

I  arrived  here  on  Sunday  afternoon  and  went  out 
in  the  evening  after  dark,  and  I  was  struck  by  a 
somewhat  unusual  feeling  which  at  the  first  moment  I 
did  not  analyze ;  and  suddenly  it  came  upon  me  that 
this  was  the  first  time  for  two  years  and  a  half  or 
more  when  I  had  seen  a  properly  lighted  street.  There 
is  not  a  street  in  London,  there  is  not  a  street  in  any 
city  of  the  United  Kingdom,  in  which  after  dark  the 
whole  community  is  not  wrapped  in  a  gloom  exceed- 
ing that  which  must  have  existed  before  the  invention 
of  gas  or  electric  lighting.  But  that  is  a  small  matter, 
and  I  only  mention  it  because  it  happened  to  strike 
me  as  one  of  my  earliest  experiences  in  this  city. 

Of  course,  the  more  tragic  side  of  war  is  never,  and 
cannot  ever  be,  absent  from  our  minds.  I  saw  with 
great  regret  this  morning  in  the  newspapers  that  the 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      29 

son  of  Bonar  Law,  our  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer, 
was  wounded  and  missing  in  some  of  the  operations 
now  going  on  in  Palestine,  and  I  instinctively  cast  my 
mind  back  to  the  losses  of  this  war  in  all  circles,  but 
as  an  illustration  it  seems  to  me  impressive.  I  went 
over  the  melancholy  list,  and,  if  my  memory  serves 
me  right,  out  of  the  small  number  of  Cabinet  Minis- 
ters, men  of  Cabinet  rank  who  were  serving  the  State 
when  the  war  broke  out  in  August,  1914,  one  has  been 
killed  in  action,  four  at  least  have  lost  sons,  and  now 
Bonar  Law's  son  is  wounded  and  missing — not,  I  hope, 
lost  to  us,  but  still  in  a  position  from  which  he  may 
not  return  to  his  friends.  That  is  the  sort  of  things 
that  have  happened  in  quite  a  small  and  narrowly 
restricted  class  of  men,  but  it  is  characteristic  of  what 
is  happening  throughout  the  whole  country. 

The  condition  of  France  in  that  respect  is  evidently 
even  more  full  of  sorrow  and  tragedy  than  our  own, 
because  we  had  not  a  great  army,  we  had  but  a  small 
army  when  war  broke  out,  whereas  the  French  army 
was  of  the  great  continental  type,  was  on  a  war  foot- 
ing, and  was,  from  the  very  inception  of  military 
operations,  engaged  in  sanguinary  conflict  with  the 
common  enemy. 

We  have  to-day  amongst  us  a  mission  from  France. 
I  doubt  not — indeed,  I  am  fully  convinced — that  they 
will  receive  a  welcome  not  less  warm,  not  less  heart- 
felt, than  that  which  you  have  so  generously  and  en- 
couragingly extended  to  us.  That  was  and  certainly 
will  be  increased  by  the  reflection  that  one  member  of 
the  mission  is  Marshal   Joffre,   who  will   go   down 


^  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

through  all  time  as  the  general  in  command  of  the 
Allied  forces  at  one  of  the  most  critical  moments  in 
the  world 's  history.  I  remember  when  I  was  here  he- 
fore  there  was  a  book  which  was  given  out  in  the 
schools  called  ''The  Fifteen  Decisive  Battles  of  the 
World/'  I  do  not  know  whether  they  all  quite  de- 
serve that  title,  but  there  can  be  no  doubt  or  question 
whatever  that  among  the  decisive  battles  of  the  world, 
the  Battle  of  the  Marne  was  the  most  decisive.  It  was 
a  turning  point  in  the  history  of  mankind,  and  I 
rejoice  that  the  hero  of  that  event  is  to-day  coming 
among  us  and  will  join  us,  the  British  nation,  in  lay- 
ing before  the  people  of  the  United  States  our  grati- 
tude for  the  sympathy  which  they  have  shown  and  are 
showing,  and  our  warm  confidence  in  the  value  of  the 
assistance  which  they  are  affording  the  allied  cause. 

Gentlemen,  I  do  not  believe  that  the  magnitude  of 
that  assistance  can  by  any  possibility  be  exaggerated. 
I  am  told  that  there  are  some  doubting  critics  who 
seem  to  think  that  the  object  of  the  mission  of  France 
and  Great  Britain  to  this  country  is  to  inveigle  the 
United  States  out  of  its  traditional  policy,  and  to 
entangle  it  in  formal  alliances,  secret  or  public,  with 
European  powers.  I  cannot  imagine  any  rumor  with 
less  foundation,  nor  can  I  imagine  a  policy  so  utterly 
unnecessary. 

Our  confidence  in  this  assistance  which  we  are  go- 
ing to  get  from  this  community  is  not  based  upon  such 
shallow  considerations  as  those  which  arise  out  of 
formal  treaties.  No  treaty  could  increase  the  un- 
doubted confidence  with  which  we  look  to  the  United 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      31 

States,  who,  having  come  into  the  war,  are  going  to 
see  the  war  through.  If  there  is  any  certainty  in  hu- 
man affairs,  that  is  certain./ 

Two  years  and  a  half  have  gone  since  the  war  be- 
gan, and  the  great  public  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic 
has  been  watching,  with  deepening  interest,  the  blood- 
stained drama  going  on  across  the  ocean,  and  I  am 
well  convinced  that  as  each  month  has  passed,  so  has 
the  conviction  grown  among  you  that  after  all  it  is 
no  small  or  petty  interest  that  is  involved  in  this  war, 
it  is  no  struggle  for  so  many  square  miles  of  territory, 
for  some  acquisition,  some  satisfaction  of  small  na- 
tional ambition.  It  was  nothing  short  of  the  full  con- 
sciousness that  the  liberties  of  mankind  are  really  in- 
volved in  the  issue  of  this  struggle  that  was  animating 
the  allied  countries. 

With  such  a  cause  the  American  public  has  always 
been  in  full  sympathy,  and  now,  after  watching  it 
through  all  these  months,  you  have  found  yourselves 
impelled  to  join  in  the  great  conflict.  I  feel  perfectly 
certain  that  you  will  throw  into  it  all  your  unequaled 
resources,  all  your  powers  of  invention,  of  production, 
all  your  man  power,  all  the  resources  of  that  country 
which  has  greater  resources  than  any  other  country  in 
the  world,  and  already  having  come  to  the  decision, 
nothing  will  turn  you  from  it  but  success  crowning 
our  joint  efforts. 

This  expresses  the  sentiments  with  which  I  have 
been  animated  ever  since  I  came  to  this  city — ^my  sen- 
timent of  gratitude,  my  sentiment  of  hope. 

Allow  me  to  thank  you  most  heartily  again  for  hav- 


32  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

ing  come  here  for  this  brief  interview,  and  to  express 
my  gratitude  for  what  you  have  done,  and  my  firm 
confidence  that  all  of  you  will,  wielding  the  great 
power  you  do,  exercise  it  in  the  convincing  cause  of 
justice,  truth,  and  peace. 

M.   VIVIANI  AND   MARSHAL  JOFFRE   IN   WASHINGTON 

M.  Viviani  on  the  following  day  made  to  the  newspaper 
correspondents  a  statement  on  behalf  of  himself  and  the 
other  members  of  the  French  mission,  as  follows: 

I  promised  to  receive  you  after  having  reserved,  as 
elementary  courtesy  required,  my  first  communication 
solely  for  the  President.  I  have  just  had  the  honor, 
which  I  shared  with  the  other  members  of  the  mission, 
of  being  received  by  him.  I  am  indeed  happy  to  have 
been  chosen  to  present  the  greetings  of  the  French 
Republic  to  the  illustrious  man  whose  name  is  in 
every  French  mouth  to-day,  whose  incomparable  mes- 
sage is  at  this  very  hour  being  read  and  commented 
upon  in  all  our  schools  as  the  most  perfect  charter  of 
human  rights,  and  which  so  fully  expresses  the  virtues 
of  your  race — long-suffering  patience  before  appealing 
to  force,  and  force  to  avenge  that  long-suffering  pa- 
tience when  there  can  be  no  other  means. 

Since  you  are  here  to  listen  to  me,  I  ask  you  to  re- 
peat a  thousandfold  the  expression  of  our  deep  grat- 
itude for  the  enthusiastic  reception  the  American  peo- 
ple has  granted  us  in  Washington.  It  is  not  to  us,  but 
to  our  beloved  and  heroic  France  that  the  reception 
was  accorded.    We  were  proud  to  be  her  children  in 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      33 

those  unforgettable  moments  when  we  read  in  the 
radiance  of  the  faces  we  saw  the  noble  sincerity  of 
your  hearts,  and  I  desire  to  thank  also  the  press  of 
the  United  States,  represented  by  you.  I  fully  realize 
the  ardent  and  disinterested  help  you  have  given  by 
your  tireless  propaganda  in  the  cause  of  right ;  I  know 
your  action  has  been  iucalculable.  Gentlemen,  I  thank 
you. 

We  have  come  to  this  land  to  salute  the  American 
people  and  its  Government,  to  call  to  fresh  vigor  our 
life-long  friendship,  sweet  and  cordial  in  the  ordinary 
course  of  our  lives,  and  which  these  tragic  hours  have 
raised  to  all  the  ardor  of  brotherly  love — a  brotherly 
love  which  in  these  last  years  of  suffering  has  multi- 
plied its  most  touching  expressions.  You  have  given 
help,  not  only  in  treasure,  in  every  act  of  kindness 
and  good-will;  for  us  your  children  have  shed  their 
blood  and  the  names  of  your  sacred  dead  are  inscribed 
forever  in  our  hearts.  And  it  was  with  a  full  knowl- 
edge of  the  meaning  of  what  you  did  that  you  acted. 
Your  inexhaustible  generosity  was  not  the  charity  of 
the  fortunate  to  the  distressed ;  it  was  an  affirmation 
of  your  conscience,  a  reasoned  approval  of  your  judg- 
ment. 

Your  fellow-countrymen  knew  that  under  the  sav- 
age assault  of  a  nation  of  prey  which  has  made  of  war, 
to  quote  a  famous  saying,  its  national  industry,  we 
were  upholding  with  our  incomparable  allies,  faithful 
and  valiant  to  the  death,  with  all  those  who  are  fight- 
ing shoulder  to  shoulder  with  us  on  the  firing  line, 
the  sons  of  indomitable  England,  a  struggle  for  the 


34  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

violated  rights  of  man,  for  that  democratic  spirit 
which  the  forces  of  autocracy  were  attempting  to 
crush  throughout  the  world.  We  are  ready  to  carry 
that  struggle  on  to  the  end. 

And  now,  as  Pesident  Wilson  has  said,  the  Republic 
of  the  United  States  rises  in  its  strength  as  a  champion 
of  right  and  rallies  to  the  side  of  France  and  her 
allies.  Only  our  descendants,  when  time  has  removed 
them  sufficiently  far  from  present  events,  will  he  able 
to  measure  the  full  significance,  the  grandeur  of  a 
historic  act  which  has  sent  a  thrill  through  the  whole 
world.  From  to-day  on  all  the  forces  of  freedom  are 
let  loose.  And  not  only  victory,  of  which  we  were 
already  assured,  is  certain;  the  true  meaning  of  vic- 
tory is  made  manifest ;  it  can  not  be  merely  a  fortu- 
nate military  conclusion  to  this  struggle,  it  will  be  the 
victory  of  morality  and  right,  and  will  forever  secure 
the  existence  of  a  world  in  which  all  our  children  shall 
draw  free  breath  in  full  peace  and  undisturbed  pur- 
suit of  their  labors. 

To  accomplish  this  great  work,  which  will  be  car- 
ried to  completion,  we  are  about  to  exchange  views 
with  the  men  in  your  Government  best  qualified  to 
help.  The  cooperation  of  the  Republic  of  the  United 
States  in  this  world  conflict  is  now  assured.  We  work 
together  as  freemen  who  are  resolved  to  save  the  ideals 
of  mankind. 

Three  days  later  Marshal  Joffre  met  the  Washington 
correspondents  who  by  arrangement  called  on  him  at  his 
residence.    After  they  had  assembled  in  the  house,  a  door 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      35 

at  the  end  of  the  room  farthest  away  from  where  the  cor- 
respondents stood  was  opened,  and  the  Marshal  walked  in, 
accompanied  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Jean  Fabry,  "the  Blue 
Devil  of  France,"  his  Chief  of  Staff,  and  other  officers  of 
the  commission.  The  famous  soldier,  wearing  his  uniform 
— a  blue  jacket,  brilliant  red  trousers,  and  leather  puttees — 
took  a  position  at  the  head  of  the  council  table,  while  his 
callers  crowded  nearer.  Each  man's  name  and  the  name  of 
his  newspaper  were  repeated  to  the  Marshal,  after  which 
there  was  a  clasping  of  hands,  and,  in  the  case  of  corre- 
spondents who  spoke  French,  a  word  or  two  of  greeting. 
Then  the  Marshal  took  from  the  pocket  of  his  jacket  two 
typewritten  sheets  of  paper  and  began  to  read  from  them 
in  French,  with  his  head  bowed  a  little,  and  the  sheets 
held  where  the  light  from  a  window  behind  would  strike 
them  best.  His  voice  was  even  and  soft,  and  yet  such  was 
its  quality  that  persons  standing  in  the  far  comers  of  the 
room  were  able  to  hear  every  word  he  uttered.  American 
and  French  officers  stood  just  behind  him  at  attention. 

When  the  Marshal  had  concluded  and  the  correspondents 
had  applauded  vigorously,  a  military  aid  read  an  English 
version  of  the  speech.  As  the  last  word  was  heard,  and  the 
correspondents  realized  the  importance  of  the  Marshal's 
statement,  there  was  a  burst  of  applause  so  loud  that  it 
reached  the  ears  of  a  crowd  of  men  and  women  who  were 
waiting  outside  the  grounds  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  French 
hero  who  was  soon  to  start  for  Mount  Vernon.  A  transla- 
tion of  Marshal  Joffre's  remarks,  as  supplied,  follows : 

The  very  cordial  welcome  given  me  by  the  City 
of  Washington,  and  the  expressions  of  sympathy 
which  reached  me  from  states  and  cities  throughout 
the  United  States  have  moved  me  deeply,  since  they 


36  BALFOUR,  VIYIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

are  an  homage  paid  to  the  whole  French  army  which  I 
represent  here. 

The  heroism  and  resolution  of  the  soldiers  of  France 
indeed  deserve  all  the  affection  the  United  States  has 
shown  them.  After  having  in  a  supreme  effort  de- 
feated and  thrown  back  the  barbarous  enemy,  the 
French  Army  has  untiringly  labored  to  increase  and 
perfect  its  efficiency.  And  now  in  the  third  year  of 
the  war  it  is  attacking  the  enemy  with  greater  vigor 
and  material  force  than  ever  before. 

Side  by  side  with  it  and  animated  by  a  no  less  he- 
roic spirit  stands  the  British  Army,  whose  formation 
and  development  will  ever  remain  the  admiration  of 
the  world.  The  Germans  have  realized  its  wonderful 
growth.  Every  encounter  has  made  them  feel  the 
increasing  menace  of  its  strength.  The  contempt  they 
pretended  to  feel  for  it  in  the  early  days  of  the  war 
has  gradually  become  a  dread  more  openly  avowed 
each  day. 

Led  by  its  illustrious  President,  the  United  States 
has  entered  into  this  war.  By  the  side  of  France  in 
the  defense  of  the  ideals  of  mankind,  the  place  of 
America  is  marked.  France,  which  has  long  recog- 
nized the  valor  of  the  American  soldier,  cherishes  the 
confident  hope  that  the  flag  of  the  United  States  will 
soon  be  unfurled  on  our  fighting  line.  This  is  what 
Germany  dreads.  France  and  America  will  see  with 
pride  and  joy  the  day  when  their  sons  are  once  more 
fighting  shoulder  to  shoulder  in  the  defense  of  liberty. 
The  victories  which  they  will  certainly  win  will  hasten 
the  end  of  the  war  and  will  tighten  the  links  of  affec- 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      37 

tion  and  esteem  which  have  ever  united  France  and 
the  United  States. 

When  the  cheering  died  away,  M.  Hovelaque,  a  member 
of  the  Commission,  invited  the  correspondents  to  ask 
questions.  There  was  some  hesitation  for  a  moment  while 
the  Marshal,  his  countenance  wreathed  in  smiles,  leaned 
forward  expectantly,  rubbing  a  heavy  fist  into  the  palm  of 
his  other  hand.  When  the  questions  began,  M.  Hovelaque, 
or  one  of  the  aids,  translated  them,  and  the  Marshal  replied 
in  French.  Only  once  did  the  Marshal  say  he  could  not 
discuss  in  detail  the  matter  asked  about,  since  that  matter 
was  still  under  consideration  by  members  of  the  French 
mission  and  representatives  of  the  American  Government. 
One  or  two  of  the  questions  puzzled  the  Marshal  for  a 
moment,  causing  him  to  draw  his  bushy  gray  eyebrows 
together  as  if  greatly  perplexed.  He  used  his  hands  most 
expressively  at  these  times,  occasionally  shrugged  his  shoul- 
ders, and,  once,  raising  himself  on  his  toes,  drove  his 
clinched  fist  sharply  into  the  open  palm  of  his  other  hand 
to  emphasize  a  point  he  was  making.  Many  of  the  ques- 
tions were  prompted  by  knowledge  that  the  Marshal  favored 
the  sending  of  an  American  expeditionary  force  to  France 
as  soon  as  possible.  The  correspondents  were  informed 
that  it  was  the  desire  of  the  French  mission  that  the  con- 
versation should  not  be  published  until  it  had  been  sub- 
mitted to  the  State  Department  and  that  the  approved  text 
of  the  questions  and  answers  would  be  given  out  later. 
Some  hours  afterward  a  statement,  covering  the  questions 
and  answers,  was  issued : 

Q. — Is  it  advisable  to  withdraw  Americans  now  on 
the  field  of  battle  and  form  an  independent  American 
corps?    A. — Marshal  JoJffre  said  he  did  not  think  it 


38  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

would  be  wise  to  withdraw  Americans  who  were  al- 
ready at  the  front.  It  would  be  better  to  use  them 
with  any  units  which  might  be  sent  to  France.  He 
thought  it  of  the  greatest  importance  that  the  Amer- 
ican flag  should  be  seen  in  France;  every  one  would 
then  feel  that  America  was  there.  But  this  did  not 
apply  to  certain  specialists  in  war  who  might  be  found 
more  useful  in  training  American  soldiers.  In  his 
opinion  Americans  who  were  already  there  should  stay 
there.  He  thought  now  when  battles  were  raging 
every  energy  should  be  added  to  the  forces  already  on 
the  French  front.  That  was  why  Americans  now  in 
France  were  needed  there. 

Q. — Would  the  Marshal  prefer  to  have  our  regulars 
serving  there?  A. — Marshal  Joffre  considered  this 
problem  far  too  difficult  to  be  solved  without  mature 
consideration. 

Q. — The  Marshal  was  asked  how  long  a  period  of 
training  was  necessary  to  form  a  new  army.  A. — He 
replied  that  no  definite  answer  to  such  a  question  was 
possible.  The  War  Office  alone  really  knew  exact 
conditions.  The  example  of  England  would  throw 
some  light  on  the  probable  time  it  would  take.  Staff 
officers  necessarily  are  slowly  prepared.  But  subordi- 
nate officers  can  be  trained  with  considerable  speed 
when  one  has  such  fine  material  as  the  English  make. 
An  American  Army  would  probably  develop  even 
faster,  as  it  would  profit  by  the  experiences  of  the 
British  and  French.  If  a  large  army,  completely 
equipped,  had  to  be  transported  at  one  time,  the  trans- 
portation would  be  a  tremendous  problem.    He  would 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      39 

therefore  consider  it  better  to  send  unit  by  unit  over 
one  at  a  time. 

Q. — Marshal  Joffre  was  asked  if  he  would  speak  of 
such  experiences  as  he  had  had  with  Americans  at  the 
front.  A. — He  said  it  would  be  invidious  to  single  out 
any  particular  instances  of  valor  where  valor  was  so 
general.  He  had  congratulated  all  Americans  in 
France,  and  notably  the  whole  corps  of  aviators  who 
had  been  most  successful.  One  fact  that  might  inter- 
est Americans  was  that  President  Wilson's  message 
had  caused  a  thrill  to  all  soldiers  who  read  it.  The 
German  Government  did  not  give  to  its  people  the  full 
and  correct  text  of  the  message.  It  was  translated 
into  German,  however,  and  Allied  aviators  threw  it 
into  the  German  lines  and  thereby  gave  German  sol- 
diers an  opportunity  of  reading  the  full  text  of  the 
speech.  This  was  of  importance,  as  German  officials 
took  particular  pains  to  keep  all  important  war  news 
from  soldiers  in  the  trenches. 

Q. — Marshal  Joffre  was  asked  if  the  troops  which 
were  to  be  sent  over  would  be  trained  by  French  sol- 
diers. A. — In  reply  he  said  that  there  was  no  reason 
to  doubt  the  capacity  of  the  officers  of  the  American 
Army  tb  train  fully  their  own  men,  in  spite  of  their 
distance  from  the  field  of  action.  It  did  not  take  so 
very  long  a  time  to  train  subordinate  officers  to  lead 
men  into  battle.  For  example,  the  British  had  a  very 
considerable  number  of  divisions  on  the  front,  with 
fine  officers,  who  before  the  war  w^re  lawyers,  mer- 
chants, etc.  The  same  men  in  America  would  cer- 
tainly show  themselves  as  capable. 


40  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Q. — The  Marshal  was  asked  if  the  troops  we  were 
to  send  would  serve  as  an  American  unit.  A. — He 
replied  that  this  could  not  be  answered,  because  it  was 
a  matter  to  be  dealt  with  by  the  Secretary  of  War. 

Q. — ^When  asked  to  tell  of  the  devotion  of  French 
women  in  order  to  give  an  idea  of  what  American 
women  might  be  expected  to  do,  the  Marshal  said  the 
influence  of  women  could  be  enormous  in  giving  moral 
support  and  in  writing  to  the  soldiers  cheerfully  and 
encouraging  them  to  bear  with  all  the  hardships  and 
perils  of  war.  They  could  help  them  materially  in 
all  sorts  of  ways.  When  the  first  winter  came  upon 
the  French  Army  it  had  been  impossible  to  make  suf- 
ficient provision  for  the  men.  The  Marshal  appealed 
to  the  women  to  help  their  husbands,  brothers  and 
sons.  All  through  France  women  set  to  knitting 
sweaters  and  socks.  And  not  only  the  French,  but 
American  women  helped,  too,  in  the  same  way.  Their 
help  was  deeply  appreciated,  and  the  Marshal  wished 
the  newspapermen  to  say  how  warm  this  appreciation 
was.  He  also  wished  to  thank  American  women  for 
their  great  interest  in  the  ambulance  work.  They 
had  never  slacked  in  their  efforts. 

There  soon  began  in  Washington  a  series  of  interchanges 
of  information  and  helpful  discussion  which,  in  importance 
and  value,  probably  constituted  the  most  memorable  inter- 
national conference  ever  held  in  America.  Mr.  Balfour, 
M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  became  the  central  figures 
of  a  large  group  of  experts  in  war  and  government,  British, 
French  and  American.  What  they  said  publicly  put  stress 
on  their  desire  to  help  America  to  avoid  pitfalls  and  errors 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      41 

which  their  own  countries  had  experienced;  to  show  us 
how  to  work  wisely  and  effectively  for  the  common  end; 
and  expressed  appreciation  of  American  support  and  world 
patriotism,  or,  as  Mr.  Balfour  phrased  it,  "a  common  ef- 
fort for  a  great  ideal."  Mr.  Balfour,  having  heard  that 
some  critics  believed  that  the  object  of  this  mission  was  to 
"inveigle  the  United  States  out  of  its  traditional  policy 
and  to  entangle  it  in  formal  alliances,  either  secret  or  pub- 
lic, with  European  Powers,"  took  occasion  to  say  in  public 
that  he  could  imagine  no  rumor  "having  less  foundation" 
or  any  policy  "more  utterly  unnecessary  or  futile."  Confi- 
dence in  the  assistance  the  Allies  were  going  to  get  from 
America  was  not  based  on  such  shallow  considerations  as 
those  which  arise  out  of  formal  treaties.  No  treaty  could 
increase  the  Entente's  undoubted  confidence  in  the  people 
of  the  United  States,  who,  having  come  into  the  war,  were 
going  to  see  it  through.  If  anything  was  certain  in  this 
war,  that  was  certain. 

THE  BRITISH   AND  FRENCH   IN   MT.   \TaiNON 

On  April  29  the  British  and  French  commissions  visited 
Mount  Vernon,  where  the  flags  of  Great  Britain,  France 
and  the  United  States  floated  over  the  tomb  of  Washing- 
ton. Nature  was  in  her  most  bounteous  garb.  The  ever- 
greens before  the  tomb  stood  out  boldly  in  the  new  life  just 
blossoming.  About  five  hundred  persons  stood  with  bared 
heads  in  a  semi-circle  before  the  tomb  when,  without  for- 
mality. Secretary  Daniels  motioned  to  M.  Viviani,  who 
advanced  slowly  into  the  center  and  delivered  an  address. 
Spectators,  though  most  of  them  could  not  understand 
French,  caught  the  suppressed  fire  of  the  orator,  and  fol- 
lowed his  words  spellbound.  Apart  from  M.  Viviani's 
voice  not  a  sound  could  be  heard.    He  said: 


42  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

We  could  not  remain  longer  in  "Washington  with- 
out accomplishing  this  pious  pilgrimage.  In  this  spot 
lies  all  that  is  mortal  of  a  great  hero.  Close  hy  this 
spot  is  the  modest  abode  where  Washington  rested 
after  the  tremendous  labor  of  achieving  for  a  nation 
its  emancipation. 

In  this  spot  meet  the  admiration  of  the  whole  world 
and  the  veneration  of  the  American  people.  In  this 
spot  rise  before  us  the  glorious  memories  left  by  the 
soldiers  of  France  led  by  Rochambeau  and  Lafayette, 
a  descendant  of  the  latter,  my  friend,  M.  de  Cham- 
brun,  accompanies  us. 

And  I  esteem  it  a  supreme  honor  as  well  as  a  sat- 
isfaction for  my  conscience  to  be  entitled  to  render 
this  homage  to  our  ancestors  in  the  presence  of  my 
colleague  and  friend,  Mr.  Balfour,  who  so  nobly  rep- 
resents his  great  nation.  By  thus  coming  to  lay  here 
the  respectful  tribute  of  every  English  mind  he  shows, 
in  this  historic  moment  of  communion  which  France 
has  willed,  what  nations  that  live  for  liberty  can  do. 

When  we  contemplate  in  the  distant  past  the  lu- 
minous presence  of  Washington,  in  nearer  times  the 
majestic  figure  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  when  we  respect- 
fully salute  President  Wilson,  the  worthy  heir  of 
these  great  memories,  we  at  one  glance  measure  the 
vast  career  of  the  American  people. 

It  is  because  the  American  people  proclaimed  and 
won  for  the  nation  the  right  to  govern  itself,  it  is  be- 
cause it  proclaimed  and  won  the  equality  of  all  men, 
that  the  free  American  people  at  the  hour  marked  by 
fate  has  been  enabled  with  commanding  force  to  carry; 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      43 

its  action  beyond  the  seas ;  it  is  because  it  was  resolved 
to  extend  its  action  still  further  that  Congress  was 
enabled  to  obtain  within  the  space  of  a  few  days  the 
vote  of  conscription  and  to  proclaim  the  necessity  for 
a  national  army  in  the  full  splendor  of  civil  peace. 
In  the  name  of  France  I  salute  the  young  army  which 
will  share  in  our  common  glory. 

While  paying  this  supreme  tribute  to  the  memory 
of  Washington  I  do  not  diminish  the  effect  of  my 
words  when  I  turn  my  thoughts  to  the  memory  of  so 
many  unnamed  heroes.  I  ask  you  before  this  tomb  to 
bow  in  earnest  meditation  and  all  the  fervor  of  piety 
before  all  the  soldiers  of  the  allied  nations,  who  for 
nearly  three  years  have  been  fighting  under  different 
flags  for  the  same  ideal. 

I  beg  you  to  address  the  homage  of  your  hearts  and 
souls  to  all  the  heroes — ^born  to  live  in  happiness,  in 
the  tranquil  pursuit  of  their  labors,  in  the  enjoyment 
of  all  human  affections — who  went  into  battle  with 
virile  cheerfulness  and  gave  themselves  up,  not  to 
death  alone,  but  to  the  eternal  silence  that  closes  over 
those  whose  sacrifice  remains  unnamed,  in  the  full 
knowledge  that  save  for  those  who  loved  them  their 
names  would  disappear  with  their  bodies.  Their  mon- 
ument is  in  our  hearts.  Not  the  living  alone  greet  us 
here ;  the  ranks  of  the  dead  themselves  rise  to  surround 
the  soldiers  of  liberty. 

At  this  solemn  hour  in  the  history  of  the  world, 
while  saluting  from  this  sacred  mound  the  final  vic- 
tory of  justice,  I  send  to  the  Republic  of  the  United 
States  the  greetings  of  the  French  Republic. 


44  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Then  stepped  forward  Mr.  Balfour,  who  for  a  moment 
stood  in  silence,  a  tall,  erect,  kindly  figure.  Abandoning 
his  pre^dous  decision  not  to  speak,  he  gave  expression  to  a 
few  poignant  sentences  that  evidently  came  straight  from 
the  heart: 

M.  Viviani  has  expressed  in  most  eloquent  words 
the  feelings  which  grip  us  all  here  to-day.  He  has 
not  only  paid  a  fitting  tribute  to  a  great  statesman,  but 
he  has  brought  our  thoughts  most  vividly  down  to 
the  present.  The  thousands  who  have  given  their  lives 
— French,  Russian,  Italian,  Belgian,  Serbian,  Monte- 
negrin, Roumanian,  Japanese,  and  British — were 
fighting  for  what  they  believed  to  be  the  cause  of  lib- 
erty. There  is  no  place  in  the  world  where  a  speech 
for  the  cause  of  liberty  would  be  better  placed  than 
here  at  the  tomb  of  Washington.  But  as  that  work 
has  been  so  adequately  done  by  a  master  of  oratory, 
perhaps  you  will  permit  nie  to  read  a  few  words  pre- 
pared by  the  British  mission  for  the  wreath,  we  are  to 
leave  here  to-day: 

"Dedicated  by  the  British  mission  to  the  immortal 
memory  of  George  Washington,  soldier,  statesman,  pa- 
triot, who  would  have  rejoiced  to  see  the  country  of 
which  he  was  by  birth  a  citizen  and  the  country  which 
his  genius  called  into  existence,  fighting  side  by  side 
to  save  mankind  from  subjection  to  a  military  des- 
potism. ' ' 

Governor  Stuart,  of  Virginia,  then  spoke  for  Virginia. 
"Washington,*'  he  said,  "originally  belonged  to  Virginia, 
but  his  priceless  memory  has  now  become  a  common  heri- 
tage of  the  world*    We  consecrate  here  to-day  a  struggle 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      45 

bearing  the  supreme  test  of  the  issues  for  which  he  lived, 
fought  and  died."  Marshal  Joffre  then  came  forward  and 
spoke  in  French  two  brief  sentences : 

In  the  French  Army  all  venerate  the  name  and 
memory  of  Washington.  I  respectfully  salute  here 
the  great  soldier  and  lay  upon  his  tomb  the  palm  we 
offer  to  our  soldiers  who  have  died  for  their  country. 

Two  French  officers  advanced  with  a  bronze  wreath  for 
the  tomb,  the  highest  mark  of  honor  which  the  French 
accord  dead  soldiers.  Bending  over,  the  Marshal  passed 
through  the  low  narrow  entrance,  solemnly  placed  the 
wreath  upon  the  stone  coffin  and  stood  there  silently  at 
salute.  Here  was  the  general  who  had  saved  France  doing 
homage  to  the  general  who  had  won  liberty  for  the  United 
States. 

As  Marshal  Joffre  passed  back  among  the  spectators, 
Mr.  Balfour  stepped  forward  with  a  wreath  of  lilies  and 
oak  leaves,  tied  with  the  colors  of  the  three  allied  nations. 
He,  too,  entered  the  tomb,  and  placed  the  British  token 
beside  the  French,  while  Lieut.  Gen.  Bridges  stood  outside 
at  salute.  There  was  neither  music  nor  applause.  Except 
for  the  brief  words  of  the  speakers,  the  silence  and  peace 
of  the  place  were  not  broken.  The  little  gathering  looked 
on  with  emotions  too  varied  and  profound  for  expression. 

The  visiting  statesmen  afterwards  passed  in  and  out  of 
several  rooms  at  the  old  mansion,  examining  heirlooms  and 
looking  curiously  at  the  key  of  the  Bastile,  which  Lafayette 
had  presented  to  Washington.  Mr.  Balfour  was  the  last 
to  leave. 

Seldom,  it  seemed  to  the  small  group  of  men  and  women 
who  gathered  at  Mount  Vernon,  had  there  been  a  more  im- 
pressive scene  on  American  soil,  the  more  notable  because 
of  its  simpHcity.     In  the  assemblage  were  members   of 


46  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

the  French  and  British  missions,  the  French  and  British 
Ambassadors,  American  Cabinet  officers,  and  high  officers 
of  the  United  States  army  and  navy.  The  party  had  gone 
down  the  Potomac  as  the  guests  of  Secretary  Daniels,  on 
the  Mayflower.  It  was  the  second  time  that  the  memory  of 
Washington  had  thus  been  honored  by  a  Briton.  The  first 
was  in  1860,  when  King  Edward,  then  Prince  of  Wales, 
visited  Mount  Vernon.  But  it  was  the  first  time  that  a 
British  flag  had  been  raised  over  Washington's  tomb.  M. 
Viviani's  eloquent  speech  made  a  deep  impression,  not  only 
on  the  company  gathered  at  the  tomb,  but  on  the  whole 
country,  as  widely  printed  in  the  newspapers.* 

M.    VIVIANI  AND    MARSHAL    JOFFRE    IN    THE    SENATE 

On  May  1  the  ceiling  of  the  Senate  chamber  at  the  Cap- 
itol reechoed  to  shouts  of  welcome  for  M.  Viviani  and 
Marshal  Joffre,  who  went  there  by  prearrangement.  Rules 
forbade  applause;  technically,  they  forbade  Joffre's  admis- 
sion to  the  floor,  but  no  one  thought  of  challenging  either 
him  or  any  of  the  visitors,  including  several  foreign  jour- 
nalists, who  entered  the  chamber  with  the  guests.  The  ad- 
mission of  Marshal  Joffre,  alone,  had  been  sanctioned  in 
advance  by  unanimous  consent,  but  this  consent  seemed  to 
carry  with  it  everything  that  would  make  the  welcome  in- 
formal nnd  complete."^  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre 
reached  Vice-President  Marshal's  room  shortly  before  12 :30 
o'clock.  The  Vice-President  named  Mr.  Hitchcock  of 
Nebraska,  and  Mr.  Lodge,  of  Massachusetts,  to  usher  the 
guests  into  the  chamber.  M.  Viviani  entered  with  Mr. 
Hitchcock,  Marshal  Joffre  with  Mr.  Lodge,  M.  Jusserand, 
the  French  Ambassador,  with  Admiral  Chocheprat.  M. 
Viviani's  speech,  loudly  called  for,  was  as  follows: 

iThe  Washington  Post. 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      47 

Mr.  President  and  Senators:  Since  I  have  been 
granted  the  supreme  honor  of  speaking  before  the 
representatives  of  the  American  people,  may  I  ask 
them  first  to  allow  me  to  thank  this  magnificent  capi- 
tal for  the  welcome  it  has  accorded  us  ?  Accustomed 
as  we  are  in  our  own  free  land  to  popular  manifesta- 
tions, and  though  we  had  been  warned  by  your  fel- 
low countrymen  who  live  in  Paris  of  the  enthusiasm 
burning  in  your  hearts,  we  are  still  full  of  the  emo- 
tion raised  by  the  sights  that  awaited  us.  I  shall 
never  cease  to  see  the  proud  and  stalwart  men  who 
saluted  our  passage;  your  women,  whose  grace  adds 
fresh  beauty  to  your  city,  their  arms  outstretched,  full 
of  flowers ;  and  your  children  hurrying  to  meet  us  as 
if  our  coming  were  looked  upon  as  a  lesson  for  them, 
all  with  one 'accord  acclaiming  in  our  perishable  per- 
sons immortal  France.  And  I  predict  there  will  be 
a  yet  grander  manifestation  on  the  day  when  your 
illustrious  President,  relieved  from  the  burden  of 
power,  will  come  among  us  bearing  the  salute  of  the 
Republic  of  the  United  States  to  a  free  Europe,  whose 
foundations  from  end  to  end  shall  be  based  on  right. 

It  is  with  unspeakable  emotion  that  we  crossed  the 
threshold  of  this  legislative  palace,  where  prudence 
and  boldness  meet,  and  that  I  for  the  first  time  in 
the  annals  of  America,  though  a  foreigner,  speak 
in  this  Hall  which  only  a  few  days  since  resounded 
with  the  words  of  virile  force.  You  have  set  all  the 
democracies  of  the  world  the  most  magnificent  ex- 
ample. So  soon  as  the  common  peril  was  made  mani- 
fest to  you,  with  simplicity  and  within  a  few  short 


48  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

days,  you  voted  a  formidable  war  credit  and  pro- 
claimed that  a  formidable  army  was  to  be  raised. 
President  Wilson 's  commentary  on  his  acts,  which  you 
made  yours,  remains  in  the  history  of  free  peoples 
the  weightiest  of  lessons.  Doubtless  you  were  re- 
solved to  avenge  the  insults  offered  your  flag,  which 
the  whole  world  respected;  doubtless  through  the 
thickness  of  these  massive  walls  the  mournful  cry  of 
all  the  victims  that  criminal  hands  hurled  into  the 
depths  of  the  sea  has  reached  and  stirred  your  souls, 
but  it  will  be  your  honor  in  history  that  you  also 
heard  the  cry  of  humanity  and  invoked  against  au- 
tocracy the  rights  of  democracies.  And  I  can  only 
wonder  as  I  speak  what,  if  they  still  have  any  power 
to  think,  are  the  thoughts  of  the  autocrats  who  three 
years  ago  against  us,  three  months  ago  against  you, 
unchained  this  conflict. 

Ah!  doubtless  they  said  among  themselves  that  a 
democracy  is  an  ideal  government,  that  it  showers 
reforms  on  mankind,  that  it  can  in  the  domain  of 
labor  quicken  all  economic  activities.  And  yet  now 
we  see  the  French  Republic  fighting  in  defense  of 
its  territory  and  the  liberty  of  nations  and  opposing 
to  the  avalanche  let  loose  by  Prussian  militarism  the 
union  of  all  its  children  who  are  still  capable  of  strik- 
ing many  a  weighty  blow.  And  now  we  see  Eng- 
land, far  removed  like  you  from  conscription,  who 
has  also,  by  virtue  of  a  discipline  all  accept,  raised 
from  her  soil  millions  of  fighting  men.  And  we  see 
other  nations  accomplishing  the  same  act;  and  that 
liberty  not  only  inflames  all  hearts  but  coordinates 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      49 

and  brings  into  being  all  needed  efforts.  And  now 
we  see  all  America  rise  and  sharpen  her  weapons  in 
the  midst  of  peace  for  the  common  struggle.  Together 
we  will  carry  on  that  struggle,  arid  when  by  force 
we  have  at  last  imposed  military  victory  our  labors 
will  not  be  concluded.  Our  task  will  be,  I  quote  the 
noble  words  of  President  Wilson,  to  organize  the  so- 
ciety of  nations.  I  well  know  that  our  enemies,  who 
have  never  seen  before  them  anything  but  horizons 
of  carnage,  will  never  cease  to  jeer  at  so  noble  a  de- 
sign. Such  has  always  been  the  fate  of  great  ideas 
at  their  birth ;  and  if  thinkers  and  men  of  action  had 
allowed  themselves  to  be  discouraged  by  skeptics  man- 
kind would  still  be  in  its  infancy,  and  we  should  still 
be  slaves.  After  material  victory  we  will  win  this 
moral  victory.  "We  will  shatter  the  ponderous  sword 
of  militarism ;  we  will  establish  guaranties  for  peace  ; 
and  then  we  can  disappear  from  the  world's  stage, 
since  we  shall  leave  at  the  cost  of  our  common  immola- 
tion the  noblest  heritage  future  generations  can  pos- 
sess. 

Shouts  of  " Joffre !  Joffre !  Joffire  I"  which  Senators  start- 
ed, and  which  were  taken  up  by  the  topmost  tiers  of  the 
gallery,  induced  the  hero  of  the  Marne  to  turn  as  he  was 
leaving  the  chamber  and  make  the  shortest  speech  ever 
heard  in  that  home  of  unlimited  debate.  "I  do  not  speak 
English,"  he  said,  with  a  benignant  smile,  and  then  raising 
his  great  right  hand,  called  out  "Vivent  les  Etats-Unis !" 
After  a  military  salute  he  was  gone.  The  shout  that  rose 
and  fell  and  rose  again  as  he  went  away  became  the  climax 
of  the  visit.     Senators  La  Follette  and  Stone  led  in  these 


60  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

cheers.  The  Senate  forgot  its  august  rules  and  yelled  like 
college  boys  at  a  football  game.  Marshal  Joffre  had  fairly 
shot  himself  down  from  the  rostrum  like  an  abashed  boy 
who  had  just  spoken  his  piece  on  the  last  day  of  school. 
Half  a  dozen  strides  took  him  to  the  door.  He  went  di- 
rectly from  the  Senate  Chamber  to  the  office  of  Vice-Presi- 
dent Marshal  and  there  spent  a  few  minutes  chatting  with 
Senators  in  French.  Dozens  of  men  and  women,  unable 
to  crowd  into  the  galleries  and  waiting  in  the  corridors, 
pressed  forward  to  shake  his  hand.  Over  the  hand  of  a 
little  old  woman  with  gray  hair,  who  came  forward,  he 
bowed  low.  To  an  aged  doorkeeper  he  raised  his  hand  in 
a  military  salute. 

M.  VIVIANI  AND  MARSHAL  JOFFRE  IN  THE  HOUSE 

On  May  2,  while  standing  on  the  Speaker^s  rostrum  in 
the  House,  behind  which  hang  large  portraits  of  Washing- 
ton and  Lafayette,  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  received 
another  remarkable  ovation.  The  entire  membership  of  the 
House  and  the  crowded  galleries  alike  rose  and  applauded 
them.  When  M.  Viviani  spoke  the  House  displayed  high 
enthusiasm.  When  Marshal  Joffre,  apparently  averse  to 
talking  in  French,  rose  and  saluted  the  House,  members 
gave  him  an  ovation  probably  never  excelled  in  the  history 
of  the  lower  House  of  Congress.  Ambassador  Jusserand 
was  likewise  enthusiastically  received.  M.  Viviani's  speech 
was  translated  for  the  press  by  Representative  McCor- 
mick,  who  stood  by  the  ofi&cial  reporters'  tables  for  the 
purpose,  as  follows: 

Gentlemen :  Once  more  my  fellow-countrymen  and 
I  are  admitted  to  the  honor  of  being  present  at  a  sit- 
ting in  a  legislative  chamber.     May  I  be  permitted 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      51 

to  express  our  emotion  at  this  solemn  derogation 
against  rules  more  than  a  century  old,  and  so  far  as 
I  am  concerned,  may  I  say  as  a  member  of  Parliament 
accustomed  for  twenty  years  to  the  passions  and 
storms  which  sweep  through  political  assemblies  that  I 
appreciate  more  than  any  one  at  this  moment  the  su- 
preme joy  of  being  near  this  chair,  which  is  in  such 
a  commanding  position  that  however  feeble  may  be  the 
voice  that  speaks  thence,  it  is  heard  over  the  whole 
world.  . 

Gentlemen,  I  will  not  thank  you,  not  because  our 
gratitude  fails,  but  because  words  to  express  it  fail. 
We  feel  that  your  sympathy  and  enthusiasm  come  not 
only  from  your  hearts,  but  from  the  jealousy  which 
you  have  for  your  own  honor.  We  have  all  felt  that 
you  were  not  merely  fulfilling  the  obligation  of  in- 
ternational courtesy.  Suddenly,  in  all  its  charming 
intimacy,  the  complexity  of  the  American  soul  has 
been  revealed  to  us.  When  one  meets  an  American, 
one  is  supposed  to  meet  a  practical  man,  merely  a 
practical  man,  caring  only  for  business,  only  inter- 
ested in  business.  But  when  at  certain  hours  in  pri- 
vate life  one  studies  the  American  soul,  one  discovers 
at  the  same  time  how  fresh  and  delicate  it  is,  and 
when  at  certain  moiaents  of  public  life  one  considers 
the  soul  of  the  nation,  then  one  sees  all  the  force  of 
the  ideals  that  rise  from  it  is  so  that  this  American 
people,  in  its  perfect  balance,  is  at  once  practical 
and  sentimental,  a  realizer  and  a  dreamer,  and  is  al- 
ways ready  to  place  its  practical  qualities  at  the  dis- 
posal of  its  puissant  thoughts. 


52  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Intrusted  with  a  mandate  from  a  free  people,  we 
come  among  freemen  to  compare  our  ideas,  exchange 
our  views,  to  measure  the  whole  extent  of  the 
problems  raised  by  this  war  and  all  the  allied  na- 
tions, simply  because  they  repose  on  Democratic  in- 
stitutions, through  their  Governments,  meet  in  the 
same  lofty  region  on  equal  terms,  in  full  liberty. 

I  well  know  that  at  this  very  hour  in  the  Central 
Empires  there  is  an  absolute  monarchy  which  binds 
other  peoples  to  its  will  by  vassal  links  of  steel.  It 
has  been  said  that  this  was  ^a  sign  of  strength ;  it  is 
only  an  appearance  of  strength.  In  truth,  only  a 
few  weeks  ago,  on  the  eve  of  the  day  when  outraged 
America  was  about  to  rise  in  its  force,  on  the  morrow 
of  the  day  when  the  Russian  revolution,  faithful  to  its 
alliance,  called  at  once  its  soldiers  to  arms  and  its 
people  to  independence,  this  absolute  monarch  was 
seen  to  totter  on  the  steps  of  his  throne  as  he  felt  the 
first  breath  of  the  tempest  pass  over  his  crown.  He 
bent  toward  his  people  in  humiliation,  and,  in  order 
to  win  their  sympathy,  borrowed  from  free  peoples 
their  highest  institutions  and  promised  his  subjects 
universal  suffrage. 

Here,  in  the  crucial  hours  of  our  history  as  in 
those  of  yours,  it  is  liberty  which  clears  the  way  for 
our  soldiers.  We  are  all  now  united  in  our  common 
effort  for  civilization,  for  right. 

The  day  before  yesterday  in  a  public  meeting  at 
which  I  was  present  I  heard  one  of  your  greatest  ora- 
tors say  with  deep  emotion:  **It  has  been  sworn 
on  the  tomb  of  Washington. '  *    And  then  I  understood 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND     53 

the  full  import  of  those  words.  If  Washington  could 
rise  from  his  tomb,  if  from  his  sacred  mound  he  could 
view  the  world  as  it  now  is — shrunk  to  smaller  pro- 
portions by  the  lessening  of  material  and  moral  dis- 
tances and  the  mingling  of  every  kind  of  communica- 
tion between  men — he  would  feel  his  labors  were  not 
yet  concluded ;.  and  that,  just  as  a  man  of  superior 
and  powerful  mind  owes  a  debt  to  all  other  men,  so 
a  superior  and  powerful  nation  owes  a  debt  to  other 
nations,  and  after  establishing  its  own  independence 
must  aid  others  to  maintain  their  independence  or 
to  conquer  it.  It  is  the  mysterious  logic  of  history 
which  President  Wilson  so  marvelously  understood, 
thanks  to  a  mind  as  vigorous  as  it  is  subtle,  as  capable 
of  analysis  as  it  is  of  synthesis,  of  minute  observation 
followed  by  swift  action. 

It  has  been  sworn  on  the  tomb  of  Washington.  It 
has  been  sworn  on  the  tomb  of  our  allied  soldiers, 
fallen  in  a  sacred  cause.  It  has  been  sworn  by  the 
bedside  of  our  wounded  men.  It  has  been  sworn  on 
the  heads  of  our  orphan  children.  It  has  been  sworn 
on  cradles  and  on  tombs.     It  has  been  sworn! 

MR.    BALFOUR    IN    THE    HOUSE 

On  May  4,  to  the  surprise  of  the  House,  President  Wil- 
son appeared  in  the  gallery  to  join  in  a  demonstration 
accorded  to  Mr.  Balfour.  Precedents  of  a  century  and  a 
half  were  broken.  It  was  the  first  time  in  American  his- 
tory when  a  British  official  had  been  invited  to  address  the 
House,  and  the  first  time  that  a  President  of  the  United 
States  had  sat  in  the  gallery.    The  welcome  to  Mr.  Balfour 


54  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

and  his  associates  equaled,  if  it  did  not  surpass,  the  dem- 
onstration which  had  greeted  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre 
a  few  days  earlier.  With  Mr.  Balfour  were  General  Bridges, 
Major  Spender-Clay,  Admiral  de  Chair,  Fleet  Paymaster- 
General  Lawford,  Lord  Cunliffe,  Governor  of  the  Bank  of 
England,  and  Sir  Cecil  Spring-Rice,  the  British  Ambassa- 
dor. Unannounced,  the  President  had  slipped  into  the  ex- 
ecutive gallery.  Ambassador  Jusserand,  who  was  sitting  in 
the  diplomatic  gallery,  apparently  was  the  only  man  who 
had  noticed  him,  and  rose  to  his  feet  in  recognition  of  his 
presence.  For  several  minutes  no  one  else  on  the  floor  saw 
Mr.  Wilson,  although  he  was  sitting  in  the  front  row,  with 
Mrs.  Wilson  and  Mrs.  McAdoo.  Then  suddenly  a  member 
on  the  floor  discovered  him,  and  a  group  of  members  rose 
and  applauded.  The  whole  House  followed,  and  for  sev- 
eral minutes  the  floor  and  galleries  joined  in  hearty  cheers. 
The  President  rose  and  acknowledged  the  greeting  three 
times  before  the  demonstration  subsided. 

It  was  a  few  minutes  after  12 :30  o'clock  when  the  British 
commission  appeared.  The  whole  House  rose  to  greet  them. 
Applause  swept  the  floor  and  galleries  for  several  minutes, 
subsiding  only  to  start  with  a  new  outburst  when  the 
Speaker  introduced  Mr.  Balfour.  Two  or  three  times  Mr. 
Balfour  hesitated  for  a  word,  which  seemed  to  emphasize 
the  sincerity  of  his  address  and  the  cordiality  and  sympa- 
thy with  which  his  audience  listened.  Through  all  the 
cheering  the  President  joined  vigorously.  When  Mr.  Bal- 
four had  finished  and  was  standing  below  the  rostrum  with 
General  Bridges,  Admiral  de  Chair,  and  the  British  Am- 
bassador, and  shaking  hands  with  members  as  they  filed 
past,  Mr.  Wilson  again  surprised  every  one  by  slipping 
downstairs  quietly  and  taking  his  place  in  the  line  with 
the  Congressmen,  to  greet  Mr.  Balfour.  The  galleries  were 
packed,   and   a  large  crowd  was  waiting  outside.     Chief 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      55 

Justice  White,  Secretary  McAdoo,  Attorney  General  Greg- 
ory, and  Justices  McReynolds  and  Pitney  of  the  Supreme 
Court  were  on  the  floor.  In  the  diplomatic  gallery,  be- 
sides Ambassador  Jusserand,  were  Lady  Spring-Rice,  Col- 
ville  Barclay,  Counselor  of  the  British  Embassy,  the  Hai- 
tian Minister,  arid  Frank  Polk,  Counselor  of  the  State 
Department.    Following  is  Mr.  Balfour's  speech: 

Mr.  Speaker,  ladies,  and  gentlemen  of  the  House 
of  Representatives,  will  you  permit  me,  on  behalf  of 
my  friends  and  myself,  to  offer  you  my  deepest  and 
sincerest  thanks  for  the  rare  and  valued  honor  which 
you  have  done  us  by  receiving  us  here  to-day?  We 
all  feel  the  greatness  of  this  honor,  but  I  think  to  none 
of  us  can  it  come  home  so  closely  as  to  one  who,  like 
myself,  has  been  for  43  years  in  the  service  of  a 
free  assembly  like  your  own.  I  rejoice  to  think  that 
a  member — a  very  old  member,  I  am  sorry  to  say — 
of  the  British  House  of  Commons  has  been  received 
here  to-day  by  this  great  sister  assembly  with  such 
kindness  as  you  have  shown  to  me  and  to  my  friends. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  these  two  assemblies  are  the 
greatest  and  the  oldest  of  the  free  assemblies  now 
governing  great  nations  in  the  world.  The  history 
indeed  of  the  two  is  very  different.  The  beginnings 
of  the  British  House  of  Commons  go  back  to  a  dim 
historic  past,  and  its  full  rights  and  status  have 
only  been  conquered  and  permanently  secured  after 
centuries  of  political  struggle.  Your  fate  has  been 
a  happier  one.  You  were  called  into  existence  at  a 
much  later  stage  of  social  development.  You  came 
into  being  complete  and  perfected  and  all  your  powers 


56  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

determined,  and  your  place  in  the  Constitution  se- 
cured beyond  chance  of  revolution;  but,  though  the 
history  of  these  two  great  assemblies  is  different,  each 
of  them  represents  the  great  democratic  principle  to 
which  we  look  forward  as  the  security  for  the  future 
peace  of  the  world.  All  of  the  free  assemblies  now 
to  be  found  governing  the  great  nations  of  the  earth 
have  been  modeled  either  upon  your  practise  or  upon 
ours,  or  upon  both  combined. 

Mr.  Speaker,  the  compliment  paid  to  the  mission 
from  Great  Britain  by  such  an  assembly  and  upon 
such  an  occasion  is  one  not  one  of  us  is  ever  likely 
to  forget,  but  there  is  something,  after  all,  even  deeper 
and  more  significant  in  the  circumstances  under  which 
I  now  have  the  honor  to  address  you,  than  any  which 
arise  out  of  the  interchange  of  courtesies,  however  sin- 
cere, between  two  great  and  friendly  nations.  We  all, 
I  think,  feel  instinctively  that  this  is  one  of  the  great 
moments  in  the  history  of  the  world  and  that  what  is 
now  happening  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic  repre- 
sents the  drawing  together  of  great  and  free  peoples 
for  mutual  protection  against  the  aggression  of  mili- 
tary despotism. 

I  am  not  one  of  those  and  none  of  you  are  among 
those  who  are  such  bad  democrats  as  to  say  that 
democracies  make  no  mistakes.  All  free  assemblies 
have  made  blunders;  sometimes  they  have  committed 
crimes.  "Why  is  it,  then,  that  we  look  forward  to  the 
spread  of  free  institutions  throughout  the  world,  and 
especially  among  our  present  enemies,  as  one  of  the 
greatest  guaranties  of  the  future  peace  of  the  world  ? 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      57 

I  will  tell  you,  gentlemen,  how  it  seems  to  me.  It 
is  quite  true  that  the  people  and  the  representatives  of 
the  people  may  be  betrayed  by  some  momentary  gust 
of  passion  into  a  policy  which  they  ultimately  de- 
plore, but  it  is  only  a  military  despotism  of  the  Ger- 
man type  which  can,  through  generations  if  need  be, 
pursue  steadily,  remorselessly,  unscrupulously,  the  ap- 
palling object  of  dominating  the  civilization  of  man- 
kind. And  mark  you,  this  evil,  this  menace  under 
which  we  are  now  suffering,  is  not  one  which  dimin- 
ishes with  the  growth  of  the  knowledge  and  the  prog- 
ress of  material  civilization,  but  on  the  contrary  it  in- 
creases with  them.  When  I  was  young  we  used  to 
flatter  ourselves  that  progress  inevitably  meant  peace, 
and  that  growth  of  knowledge  was  always  accom- 
panied, as  its  natural  fruit,  by  the  growth  of  good 
will  among  the  nations  of  the  earth.  Unhappily  we 
know  better  now,  and  we  know  there  is  such  a  thing 
in  the  world  as  a  power  which  can  with  unvarying 
persistency  focus  all  the  resources  of  knowledge  and 
of  civilization  into  the  one  great  task  of  making  itself 
the  moral  and  material  master  of  the  world.  It  is 
against  that  danger  that  we,  the  free  peoples  of  west- 
ern civilization,  have  banded  ourselves  together.  It 
is  in  that  great  cause  that  we  are  going  to  fight  and 
are  now  fighting  this  very  moment  side  by  side.  In 
that  cause  we  shall  surely  conquer,  and  our  children 
will  look  back  to  this  fateful  date  as  the  one  day  from 
which  democracies  can  feel  secure  that  their  progress, 
their  civilization,  their  rivalry,  if  need  be,  will  be  con- 
ducted, not  on  German  lines,  but  in  that  friendly  and 


68  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Christian  spirit  which  really  befits  the  age  in  which 
we  live. 

Mr.  Speaker,  ladies,  and  gentlemen,  I  beg  most  sin- 
cerely to  repeat  again  how  heartily  I  thank  you  for 
the  cordial  welcome  which  you  have  given  us  to- 
day, and  to  repeat  my  profound  sense  of  the  sig- 
nificance of  this  unique  meeting. 

MR.    BALFOUR   IN   THE   SENATE 

On  May  8  Mr.  Balfour,  and  his  colleagues  of  the  Brit- 
ish mission,  paid  a  visit  to  the  Senate.  They  were  received 
with  an  enthusiasm  which,  with  the  welcome  accorded  by 
the  same  body  to  the  French  mission,  stood  out  in  high  re- 
lief above  the  ordinarily  staid  proceedings  of  the  Senate. 
Mr.  Balfour's  speech  lasted  almost  twenty-five  minutes  and 
promised  to  be  remembered  as  one  of  the  great  official  ut- 
terances of  the  war.  His  simple  statement  of  unshaken  con- 
fidence in  what  the  end  would  be  heartened  the  Senators  and 
a  thousand  other  auditors,  who  stopped  their  breathless  lis- 
tening only  to  applaud.  Through  everything  he  said  ran 
a  note  of  new  confidence  that  victory  for  the  Allies  would 
come  because  of  the  whole-hearted  assistance  the  United 
States  would  give.  Even  the  most  casual  reference  to  this 
cooperation  of  the  United  States  brought  thundering  cheers. 
Following  is  the  speech: 

Mr.  President  and  gentlemen  of  the  Senate:  You, 
Mr.  President,  have  in  graceful  and  pregnant  sen- 
tences brought  to  our  recollection  the  common  origin 
of  those  liberties  which,  whether  in  France,  in  Britain, 
or  in  the  United  States  of  America,  we  all  rejoice  in 
and  are  all  determined  to  defend.    You  have  also  in 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      59 

warm  words  of  welcome  spoken  kindly  of  the  mis- 
sion of  which  I  have  the  honor  to  be  the  head  and  to 
which  you  are  now  paying  the  rare,  the  very  rare, 
honor  of  welcoming  within  your  walls.  Gentlemen, 
on  their  behalf  not  less  than  on  my  own  I  most  sin- 
cerely thank  you  for  your  welcome.  I  know  well 
that  it  is  not  a  welcome  to  individuals.  The  kindness 
which  each  one  of  us  as  individuals  has  received  since 
we  came  to  this  great  city  will  never  be  forgotten  by 
any  one  of  us.  It  has  been  kindness,  abundant,  over- 
flowing, generous,  unlimited;  but,  gentlemen,  behind 
that  kindness  paid  by  individuals  to  individuals,  be- 
hind the  expression  of  a  hospitable  and  generous  feel- 
ing to  guests  within  your  gates,  there  is,  after  all, 
something  much  deeper,  something  much  more  im- 
portant, something  which  is,  after  all,  the  animating 
spirit  which  brings-  this  great  assembly  here  to-day. 
The  original  object  of  our  mission,  if  I  may  so  ex- 
press it,  was  mainly  a  purely  business  one.  We  came 
here  to  discuss  matters  of  the  deepest  moment  for 
the  conduct  of  that  great  war  in  which  both  our  na- 
tions are  involved.  We  came  here  to  explain  to  your 
leaders  and  statesmen  what  were  the  needs  from  which 
the  Allies  mainly  suffered,  and  to  lay  freely  at  the 
disposal  of  those  responsible  for  the  conduct  of  your 
affairs  the  results  of  our  own  experience,  the  conse- 
quences, perhaps  I  ought  to  say,  in  some  cases  of  our 
own  errors  and  blunders  during  two  years  and  a  half 
of  strenuous  and  sanguinary  fighting.  That  was  the 
original  object ;  that  was  the  business  side  of  our  mis- 
sion.    But  the  reception  which  you  have  given  us 


60  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

here,  the  treatment  which  we  have  received  from  the 
President,  from  the  Cabinet,  from  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, from  the  Senate — that  treatment  raises 
the  whole  level  of  our  mission  from  a  purely  business 
operation  to  a  great  incident  in  the  common  life  of 
two  great  and  free  peoples. 

Gentlemen,  I  do  not  think  the  importance  of  that 
is  easy  to  overrate.  I  believe  that  the  consequences 
will  not  be  measured  by  any  mere  record  of  the  trans- 
actions that  may  take  place  between  our  various  Gov- 
ernments, nor  will  the  effects  of  it  vanish  when  we 
ourselves,  in  consequence  of  the  calls  of  duty  else- 
where, leave  your  hospitable  city.  No,  gentlemen,  this 
mission  and  the  French  mission,  which  is  associated 
with  it,  mark  a  new  epoch  in  the  relations  of  our  three 
countries,  and  I  believe  that  in  the  alliance  thus  ce- 
mented lie  secure  some  of  the  greatest  hopes,  some 
of  the  proudest  expectations,  which  we  dare  to  enter- 
tain about  the  future  of  civilization. 

Gentlemen,  it  is  not,  however,  your  kindness  of 
heart  alone  which  has  given  this  significance  to  con- 
temporary events.  That  significance  is  forced  upon 
our  notice  whether  we  be  citizens  of  America  or  citi- 
zens of  France  or  citizens  of  Britain;  but  I  speak 
especially  at  this  moment  of  citizens  of  America  and 
citizens  of  Britain.  It  is  forced  upon  our  notice  by 
the  unwearied  efforts  of  an  unconscionable  German 
propaganda.  Whether  we  live  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Atlantic  or  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  we  Eng- 
lish-speaking peoples  have  never  organized  ourselves 
for  military  purposes;  we  have  never  been  military 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND     61 

States ;  and,  when  the  war  broke  out,  undoubtedly  the 
Germans  looked  around  the  world,  estimated  the  value 
(from  their  point  of  view)  of  the  nations  with  whom 
they  might  be  concerned,  and,  profoundly  contemptu- 
ous of  our  views  of  civilization,  whether  they  were 
British  or  American  views,  they  decided  that  neither 
Britain  nor  America  counted  in  the  struggle  by  which 
they  hoped  to  obtain  the  domination  of  the  world. 
They  found  us  unprepared;  they  found  us  unmili- 
tary;  and  because  we  were  unprepared  and  because 
we  were  unmilitary,  they  jumped  rashly  to  the  con- 
clusion, first,  that  we  were  afraid  to  fight,  and,  sec- 
ond, that  if  we  fought  we  would  be  wholly  negligible 
quantities.  I  think  they  are  beginning,  possibly,  to 
find  out  their  mistake. 

How,  gentlemen,  did  that  mistake  ever  arise?  It 
arose  from  the  utter  incapacity  of  the  German  ruling 
class — and  it  is  only  of  the  German  ruling  class  that  I 
speak  to-day — to  estimate  value  except  in  terms  of 
drilled  men  and  military  preparation.  They  saw  that 
England  and  America  were  prosperous,  were  unwar- 
like,  were  immersed  in  the  arts  of  peace  and  involved 
in  the  industrial  interests  incident  to  a  peaceful  civi- 
lization, and  they  drew  from  that  two  conclusions: 
They  drew  from  it,  in  the  first  place,  the  conclusion 
that  because  we  were  commercial  we  were  therefore 
material;  that  we  were  incapable  of  high  ideals  or 
great  sacrifices ;  and  the  further  conclusion  that  even 
if  we  determined  late  in  the  day  to  pursue  those  high 
ideas  and  to  make  those  great  sacrifices  we  should 
be  so  utterly  incompetent  in  the  arts  to  which  they 


62  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

had  devoted  so  much  of  their  attention  that  our  in- 
terference in  the  war  would  be  a  thing  which  they 
could  leave  wholly  on  one  side.  On  that  miscalcula- 
tion have  been  wrecked,  and  will  be  wrecked,  all  their 
hopes.  It  was  their  fatal  blunder,  a  blunder  from 
which  they  will  never  recover,  but  a  blunder  which 
has  saved  civilization. 

Gentlemen,  I  speak  with  confidence  about  the  issue 
of  this  great  struggle,  a  confidence  which  is  redoubled 
since  you  have  thrown  in  your  lot  with  those  who 
have  been  fighting  since  1914.  I  see,  indeed,  sugges- 
tions that  Germany,  incapable  of  winning  by  arms,  is 
going  to  win  through  the  illegitimate  weapon  of  sub- 
marine warfare.  I  believe  it  not.  I  do  not  at  all 
minimize,  I  do  not  wish  to  minimize,  the  gravity  of 
the  submarine  menace.  After  all,  in  the  two  years 
and  a  half  during  which  the  war  has  been  going  on, 
more  than  one  difficulty  of  like  magnitude  has  met  us 
and  more  than  one  difficulty  of  like  magnitude  has 
been  overcome. 

The  question  of  munitions  is  a  case  in  point.  I 
do  not  wish  to  detain  you  on  such  an  occasion  with 
details,  but  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  it  became 
evident  that  Germany  had  recognized  the  importance 
of  the  munitions  question,  had  been  preparing  for 
this  war  through  years  of  peace  by  having  at  her 
disposal  a  supply  of  ammunition  greater  than  all  the 
rest  of  the  world  put  together,  and  at  one  time  it 
almost  looked  as  if  the  cause  of  civilization  and  liberty 
were  to  be  crushed  under  the  multitude  of  shells  and 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      63 

the  weight  of  artillery.  We  have  surmoTinted  that 
difficulty.    It  was  a  very  great  one. 

I  do  not  deny  that  the  submarine  difficulty  is  a 
very  great  one.  I  do  not  deny  that  it  will  require 
every  effort  made,  either  in  Britain  or  here,  success- 
fully to  overcome  it;  but  that  those  efforts  will  be 
made,  that  this  menace  will  be  overcome,  that  the 
United  States  of  America,  like  Great  Britain  and  her 
dominions,  will  throw  themselves  into  the  task  with 
ungrudging  efforts,  and  that  those  efforts  will  be 
crowned  with  success,  I  do  not  doubt  for  a  moment. 
This  war  is  not  going  to  be  settled  by  the  sinking  of 
helpless  neutrals  or  by  sending  women  and  children 
to  the  bottom  by  torpedoes  or  gunfire.  It  is  to  be 
settled  by  hard  fighting;  and  when  it  comes  to  hard 
fighting,  neither  America  nor  Britain  nor  France  need 
fear  measuring  themselves  at  any  moment  against 
those  who  have  risen  up  against  all  that  we  hold 
dear  for  the  future. 

I  therefore,  gentlemen,  look  forward — not,  of 
•course,  in  a  spirit  of  light  and  easy  and  unthinking 
confidence,  but  with  firm  faith — to  the  future  of  this 
war.  It  requires  every  man  and  woman  on  this  side 
of  the  Atlantic,  as  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic, 
to  throw  their  united  efforts  into  the  scale  of  right. 
That  effort  unquestionably  will  be  made,  is  being 
made,  will  be  made  yet  further,  and,  being  made,  I 
doubt  not  that  it  will  be  crowned  with  success  and  that 
posterity  will  look  back  upon  the  union  of  these  peo- 
ples, symbolized  by  such  meetings  as  that  which  I 
am  now  addressing,  as  marking  a  new  epoch  in  the 


64  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

history  of  the  world ;  an  epoch  in  which  all  the  civil- 
ized nations  roused  themselves  in  unity  to  deal  with 
one  of  their  number  which  has  forgotten  its  responsi- 
bilities, forgotten  its  duties,  and  which,  in  unscrup- 
ulous lust  for  universal  domination,  has  brought  the 
greatest  of  known  calamities  upon  the  world. 

Gentlemen,  I  have  detained  you  too  long,  but  I  was 
led  away  by  my  subject.  On  my  own  behalf  and  on 
behalf  of  my  friends  around  me,  I  beg  to  thank  you 
for  the  unique  honor  which  you  have  paid  to  us, 
and,  through  us,  to  our  country,  to  our  cause,  which 
is  your  cause,  and  to  the  future  of  civilization,  which 
is  yours  as  much  as  ours.    I  thank  you. 

MR.    BALFOUR   IN    RICHMOND 

On  May  19  Mr.  Balfour,  who  had  then  returned  to  Wash- 
ington after  his  New  York  visit,  went  with  others  of  the 
British  mission  to  Richmond,  and  received  a  most  hospita- 
ble welcome.  The  old  Confederate  capital  made  memorable 
this  brief  call  of  courtesy  on  the  South.  As  the  special 
train  entered  the  station,  a  salute  of  nineteen  guns  was  fired, 
and  a  band  played  "God  Save  the  King,"  the  party  being 
welcomed  by  Governor  Stuart  and  Mayor  Ainslee,  while 
several  companies  of  the  Virginia  Military  Institute  cadet 
corps  stood  at  salute.  Automobiles  first  took  the  party 
through  crowded,  cheering,  flag-decked  lines  of  people,  and 
then  to  the  Governor's  mansion  for  luncheon.  The  house 
was  decorated  with  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  the  Union  Jack, 
and  the  Tricolor.  A  brilliant  assemblage  of  Virginians 
greeted  Mr.  Balfour.  Governor  Stuart,  in  his  toast  to  the 
King,  holding  a  glass  of  water,  said : 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      65 

In  this  glass  I  hold  that  which  by  the  sovereign  will 
of  the  people  of  Virginia  is  to-day  the  wine  of  the 
country,  clear  as  the  principles  of  liberty  and  justice 
in  which  we  make  common  cause,  pure  as  the  union 
of  heart  and  purpose  typified  by  the  three  flags  en- 
twined before  us,  strong  in  that  it  supplies  in  this 
hour  the  most  vital  needs  of  both  statesman  and  sol- 
dier, distilled  in  the  hills  overlooking  the  noble  James, 
on  whose  banks  the  first  permanent  English  settle- 
ment in  the  Western  world  was  established;  spon- 
taneous as  the  good  will  towards  our  distinguished 
guests  which  springs  from  our  hearts  and  our  lips — 
in  this  and  by  these  tokens  I  propose  the  health  of 
His  Majesty,  King  George. 

Mr.  Balfour,  responding  for  the  British  mission,  said: 

I  cannot  rival  the  eloquence  with  which  our  host  to- 
day has  eulogized  and  described  the  legal  wine  of  the 
country,  but  I  can  with  enthusiasm  no  less  sincere 
than  his  own,  propose  a  toast  which  has  always  been 
dear  to  the  heart  of  all  Englishmen,  but  never  so  dear 
as  now — the  President  of  the  United  States. 

After  the  luncheon,  Lieutenant-General  Bridges  placed 
wreaths  for  the  British  army  at  the  statues  of  Robert  E. 
Lee  and  "Stonewall"  Jackson.    The  card  on  the  first  read: 

To  the  memory  of  Robert  E.  Lee,  whose  military 
genius  and  chivalrous  personality  have  given  him  a 
high  place  among  the  great  captains  of  the  world's 
history,  this  tribute  is  paid  on  behalf  of  the  British 
army. 


66  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Especially  interesting  were  the  simple  ceremonies  at  the 
statue  of  "Stonewall"  Jackson,  in  Capitol  Square,  a  gift  of 
admiration  from  Englishmen  to  the  South.  Taking  a  mag- 
nolia wreath  in  his  hands,  General  Bridges  walked  to  the 
etatue,  reverently  laid  the  wreath  at  its  base,  stepped  back, 
removed  his  hat,  and  silently  read  the  inscription,  which 
tells  from  whom  the  statue  came,  and  why  it  was  sent. 
Then  stepping  rapidly  back,  he  came  to  a  halt,  assumed  the 
rigid  attitude  of  the  soldier  at  attention,  and  saluted  the 
figure  of  the  chieftain.  General  Jackson's  wreath  bore 
these  words: 

To  the  memory  of  T.  J.  Jackson,  a  God-fearing 
man,  and  a  great  soldier,  whose  example  has  been  an 
inspiration  to  many  a  British  officer,  this  tribute 
is  dedicated  on  behalf  of  the  British  army. 

With  a  great  roar  of  cheers  and  the  waving  of  innumera- 
ble British  flags,  5,000  people  in  the  auditorium  at  4:00 
*in  the  afternoon  rose  unanimously  to  their  feet  when  Mr. 
Balfour  stepped  into  the  hall,  accompanied  by  Governor 
Stuart.  Mayor  Ainslee,  in  delivering  a  short  address,  wel- 
comed the  British  commission  to  Richmond.  He  referred 
to  blood  being  thicker  than  water,  whereupon  Mr.  Balfour 
leaned  forward  and  earnestly  pounded  the  table  before  him, 
nodding  approval  at  the  same  time.  What  had  been  an 
enthusiastic  crowd  before,  now  turned  almost  into  pande- 
monium when  Mr.  Balfour  arose  to  speak.  Every  hand 
seemed  to  wave  a  flag  and  every  voice  to  cry  out,  while 
tears  fell  unnoticed  from  many  eyes.  The  band  struggled 
to  interpret  the  strong  feeling  of  the  moment  by  starting 
"Dixie."*    When  order  was  secured,  Mr.  Balfour  said: 

*The  Richmond  Times-Dispatch. 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      67 

There  was  a  moment  when  I  feared  that  public  en- 
gagements would  make  it  impossible  to  visit  Rich- 
mond. Such  a  loss  would  have  been  a  bitter  disap- 
pointment to  myself  and  to  the  other  members  of 
the  British  war  commission.  How  great  a  loss  it 
would  have  been,  neither  they  nor  I  had  any  concep- 
tion of  until  we  arrived  in  the  city,  were  welcomed 
by  your  Governor  and  your  Mayor,  and  had  received 
the  continuous  welcome  given  in  street  after  street, 
the  whole  culminating  in  this  magnificent  meeting. 

You,  Mr.  Mayor,  have  doubled  the  value  of  the  wel- 
come by  your  speech,  in  which,  with  words  concise 
and  admirably  chosen,  you  have  shown  how  the  great 
country  we  are  visiting  and  the  great  country  from 
which  we  are  sent  are  one  in  fundamental  character- 
istics of  all  great  free  peoples,  one  in  history,  one  in 
ideals,  with  a  unity  that  is  never  again  to  be  disturbed 
by  the  chances  of  political  life. 

The  consciousness  of  this  unity  has  never  been  ab- 
sent from  our  minds,  I  believe,  but  recent  events  have 
brought  a  renewed  realization  of  its  tremendous  worth, 
and  made  us  feel  how  small  and  petty  were  the  slight 
differences  which  may  have  divided  us  compared  with 
the  vital  agreements  that  now  bind  us.  We  have  com- 
mon objects,  common  efforts  and  common  determina- 
tions, and  are  prepared  to  make  common  sacrifices 
until  our  ends  are  obtained. 

The  cooperation  between  the  Allies  who  have  been 
fighting  for  two  years  and  a  half  and  the  great,  great 
republic  which  has  now  joined  itself  to  the  cause  is 
already  felt  in  the  sphere  of  active  war.    American 


68  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

warships  are  working  side  by  side  with  British  war- 
ships in  the  zone  of  danger.  They  have  not  to  meet 
open  foes  in  fair  fight,  they  have  not  to  carry  out 
great  operations  as  did  Nelson  and  Farragut.  There 
are  different  dangers  now  and  different  measures  to 
be  employed.  I  rejoice  to  think  that  ships  of  your 
gallant  navy  are  patrolling  like  brothers  with  those  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  defending  our  homes 
and  your  homes  from  the  invader. 

It  is  not  only  on  the  sea  that  immediate  action  is 
being  taken.  I  observe  in  to-day  ^s  papers  the  an- 
nounced determination  of  your  government  to  send 
over  without  delay  a  disciplined  force  of  the  Amer- 
ican army  to  join  with  our  allies,  the  French,  and 
with  our  own  troops  in  the  western  theater  of  the 
war.  The  moment  that  the  first  troops  from  the 
United  States  land  on  French  or  British  soil  will  be 
memorable  in  the  history  of  mankind.  It  is  said  truly 
that  the  force  sent  immediately  will  be  small  in  num- 
bers compared  with  the  colossal  force  required  in 
modern  warfare.  I  do  not  think,  however,  and  I  do 
not  believe  that  the  enemy  thinks  that  the  first  incre- 
ment of  the  American  army  will  be  insignificant. 

You  may  remember  that  in  the  early  days  of  the 
war  Britain  sent  to  France  all  the  soldiers  she  had 
at  her  disposal,  admirable  in  training  and  equipment, 
but  in  numbers  so  petty  that  the  German  Emperor 
was  led  to  speak  of  ' '  the  contemptible  British  army. ' ' 
I  rather  think  that  whatever  lesson  the  first  British 
expeditionary  force  has  taught  him,  it  has  at  least 
taught  him  to  be  more  cautious  in  the  use  of  epigram- 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      69 

matic  attacks.  He  has  learned  that,  though  a  free 
people  may  be  peculiarly  subject  to  the  disease  of  un- 
preparedness,  a  democracy  yields  to  no  form  of  gov- 
ernment in  steady  determination  to  carry  through  a 
business  which  it  has  once  taken  in  hand. 

Our  contemptible  little  army  has  grown  to  a  great 
fighting  force.  I  entertain  no  doubt,  nor  do  I  think 
that  our  enemies  do,  that  what  we  have  done  you 
can  do.  The  lessons  we  have  taught  you  will  better 
in  practise.  There  is  no  question  but  that  out  of 
your  manhood,  the  best  fighting  material  in  the  world, 
you  will  fill  every  gap  caused  by  death  in  the  ranks 
of  the  Allies.  The  only  limit  will  be  on  the  numbers 
that  can  be  transported  and  equipped.  There  will  be 
no  moral  difficulty.  Your  men,  when  trained,  as  born 
fighters,  will  lift  high  the  flag  of  the  United  States 
with  the  flags  of  the  Allies,  sharing  a  common  heritage 
of  glory,  the  memory  of  battles  waged  for  no  unselfish 
object,  for  the  common  freedom  of  mankind. 

There  is  not  a  moment  of  life  in  England  when  the 
people  are  not  reminded  of  the  changed  conditions 
brought  on  by  this  war.  America  is  too  far  from  the 
scene  of  immediate  action  for  the  parallel  ever  to 
be  carried  out  in  detail  in  this  country.  The  dis- 
tance does  not  lessen  the  effort  that  will  be  required, 
however,  nor  does  it  decrease  the  obligations  of  the 
citizens  of  this  great  country.  I  am  confident  that 
you  have  come  into  the  war  with  a  clear  vision  of 
what  it  means,  and  that  every  effort  you  will  gladly 
undertake. 

You  are  unprepared,  but  you  have  resources  for 


70  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

modern  warfare  greater  than  any  nation  in  the  world. 
War  is  not  merely  an  affair  of  numbers;  but  if  it 
were,  where  in  the  world  can  be  found  a  civilized, 
united  community  of  100,000,000  contented  citizens? 
Numbers,  if  alone,  are  nothing;  they  are  mere  food 
for  modern  weapons  of  butchery.  You  have  addi- 
tional qualities,  however.  There  is  wealth,  there  is 
courage,  there  is  resolution,  there  are  natural  material 
resources,  there  is  the  inventive  mind,  there  is  the 
organizing  power  to  turn  all  these  great  gifts  to 
account  and  to  insist  that  no  collateral  object  divert 
from  the  supreme  effort. 

Those  are  the  qualities  that  make  a  nation  great  in 
war  or  peace.  Those  none  can  deny  that  the  United 
States  possesses  in  abundance.  Therefore,  though  un- 
prepared as  we  were,  you  are  prepared  in  spirit.  The 
results  can  be  fully  assured,  as  encouraging  to  your 
friends  and  as  startling  to  your  enemies  as  was  the 
creation  of  the  great  British  army. 

I  wonder,  however,  whether  it  is  possible  for  you 
or  any  man  adequately  to  measure  all  that  this  war 
means  to  the  world  at  large.  It  beggars  description, 
the  imagination  staggers  under  the  load.  The  atten- 
tion of  the  majority  of  us  is  concentrated  upon  the 
western  front,  with  a  glance  now  and  then  toward 
Eussia  and  Turkey.  To  take  in  all  this  war  means 
requires  historical  knowledge  and  imagination  not 
given  to  every  man. 

Upon  the  fate  of  the  war  depends  whether  the 
Arabs  shall  be  able  to  shake  off  the  oppressive  rule 
of  the  Turk.     Upon  it  depends  Asia  Minor.     Upon 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      71 

it  depends  whether  the  great  wrong  once  done  by  three 
monarchies  to  Poland  shall  be  redressed.  Upon  it  de- 
pends whether  the  Balkan  states,  too  long  dominated 
by  Turkish  misrule,  shall  be  allowed  to  develop  their 
own  national  characteristics,  ideals  and  traditions.  I 
might  continue  this  imaginary  circumnavigation  of 
the  globe  until  I  came  to  China,  further  to  the  re- 
publics of  South  America,  which  are  now  uneasily 
watching  the  progress  of  the  war,  calculating  on  the 
prospect  of  their  own  future  hopelessly  compromised 
unless  the  cause  for  which  we  are  fighting  is  trium- 
phant in  the  end. 

No  such  war  was  dreamed  of  in  the  annals  of  his- 
tory. No  such  war  was  possible  until  the  develop- 
nient  of  science,  industry  and  transportation  had  ren- 
dered it  possible  for  a  knot  of  men  in  Potsdam  to 
threaten  the  liberties  of  the  remote  corners  of  the 
world.    They  will  not  succeed. 

Their  plans  have  long  been  laid,  their  preparations 
were  carefully  matured  and  cruelly  applied.  Noth- 
ing stood  in  the  way.  Morals,  humanity,  the  law  of 
nations,  the  law  of  love,  the  law  of  pity,  all  were 
set  aside  for  success.  Success  will  never  be  obtained 
along  those  lines. 

How  soon  peace  will  come  none  can  prophesy.  It 
may  be  soon,  it  may  be  far  in  the  future.  It  may 
come  gradually  or  suddenly.  Sometimes  I  think  that 
when  peace  comes,  it  will  be  as  the  summer  in  this 
country,  succeeding  in  a  day  the  cold,  cheerless  win- 
ter. When  the  time  comes,  all  nations  will  have  risen 
to  protect  ideals  more  valuable  than  wealth  or  life. 


72  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

I  rejoice  that  every  man  of  English  speech,  whether 
he  dwell  in  the  British  Isles,  in  Canada,  in  Australia, 
in  India,  in  Africa  or  in  the  United  States,  may  feel 
that  he  has  thrown  in  his  lot  for  no  selfish  object, 
no  gain  of  territory,  no  vulgar  ambition,  but  for  the 
purest,  noblest  purpose  on  earth. 

During  his  return  to  Washington  Mr.  Balfour  stopped  at 
Ashland,  Virginia,  to  greet  the  students  of  Randolph-Macon 
College,  the  alma  mater  of  Walter  H.  Page,  the  American 
ambassador  to  Great  Britain.  On  the  campus  many  stu- 
dents were  presented  to  him. 

THE  PRINCE  OF  UDINE  IN   WASHINGTON 

The  scope  of  the  work  outlined  for  the  Italian  envoys, 
while  in  general  similar  to  that  which  called  to  America  the 
French  and  British  missions,  was  to  take  into  account  some 
peculiar  problems  which  confronted  the  Government  at 
Rome.  For  one  thing,  Italy's  transportation  needs  were 
regarded  as  much  greater  than  those  of  her  northern  allies, 
because  she  was  heavily  dependent  upon  the  outside  world, 
particularly  America,  for  raw  materials.  She  needed  thou- 
sands of  tons  of  American  coal  to  keep  her  factories  in  op- 
eration, and  great  quantities  of  iron  and  steel  for  war 
manufactures.  Lumber  and  selected  hardwoods  were  also 
needed  from  America  for  war  construction  work.  In  the 
matter  of  food,  Italy  was  perhaps  better  off  than  the  other 
Allies,  but  she  still  was  in  want  of  quantities  of  grain. 
Unlike  the  French  and  British,  who  eat  only  small  grain 
such  as  wheat  and  rye,  the  Italians  are  fond  of  Indian 
corn,  which  is  the  basis  of  the  famous  national  dish,  "polen- 
ta." Italy's  financial  problems  resembled  those  of  the 
other  Entente  Allies.    Already  she  had  felt  the  great  bene- 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      73 

fit  of  American  aid  in  reduced  exchange  rates  and  in  the 
moral  encouragement  given  to  her  population.  With  these 
bases  for  discussion,  the  mission  expected  to  be  busied  in 
Washington  for  at  least  a  month.  The  head  of  the  mis- 
sion, the  Prince  of  Udine,  the  eldest  son  of  the  Duke  of 
Genoa,  and  then  Regent  of  Italy,  in  the  absence  from  Rome 
of  King  Victor  Emmanuel  at  the  front,  said  in  a  statement 
to  the  press: 

Italy,  which  for  many  centuries  has  been  divided 
and  harassed  by  the  oppression  of  foreign  rulers  and 
which  has  furnished  a  long  list  of  illustrious  defend- 
ers of  human  rights  and  of  the  laws  which  should 
regulate  warfare;  Italy,  which  in  the  middle  of  the 
last  century  succeeded  at  last  in  freeing  herself  and 
becoming  a  united  nation,  which  drew  its  power  from 
the  principle  of  nationality  and  independence,  has  ac- 
claimed with  great  enthusiasm  the  generous  interven- 
tion of  the  American  people,  who  have  joined  the 
Allies  to  bring  about  the  triumph  of  the  principles 
upon  which  alone  can  be  founded  steadfastly  peace 
and  human  progress. 

On  May  24  the  Italian  Commission  was  received  by 
President  Wilson  at  the  White  House,  that  day  being  the 
second  anniversary  of  Italy's  entrance  into  the  war.  The 
Prince,  as  the  official  spokesman,  handed  to  the  President 
a  personal  letter  from  King  Victor  Emmanuel,  and  made, 
himself,  a  brief  address,  as  follows: 

I  am  proud,  indeed,  Mr.  President,  belonging  as 
I  do  to  a  house  which  has  never  conceived  royal  power 
otherwise  than  associated  with  the  most  complete 


74  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

liberty  of  the  people,  to  have  been  chosen,  together 
with  the  gentlemen  of  this  commission,  to  greet  you 
on  behalf  of  my  King  and  cousin.  You  will  read 
the  message  which  the  King  of  Italy,  a  faithful  in- 
terpeter  of  our  country's  thought,  has  addressed  to 
you.  Permit  me,  however,  to  express  the  great  sym- 
pathy and  deep  admiration  which  I  feel  for  this  great 
and  noble  country.  As  an  Italian,  a  sailor,  and  a 
Prince,  I  consider  it  a  happy  omen  that  I  and  my  col- 
leagues, who  have  been  chosen  by  the  Government 
from  among  the  worthiest,  should  be  the  symbols  of 
the  fulfilment  of  a  sincere  aspiration  of  ours.  I  re- 
joice that  Italy  is  now  united  in  a  brotherhood  of  arms 
with  the  American  people  and  that  it  will  always  in 
the  future  be  united  with  them  by  common  ideals 
for  the  carrying  out  of  the  work  of  liberty  and  of 
civilization. 

THE   PRINCE  IN   MOUNT   VERNON 

On  May  27  the  Italian  mission  made  a  pilgrimage  to 
Mount  Vernon  and  laid  on  the  tomb  of  Washington  a 
bronze  wreath.  It  was  the  first  time  that  any  member  of  the 
Italian  royal  house  had  ever  visited  Mount  Vernon,  indeed, 
the  first  time  in  many  years  that  any  European  prince  had 
visited  the  place.  As  the  Mayflower  approached  the  land- 
ing at  Mount  Vernon  and  a  bugler  sounded  taps,  the 
party  stood  respectfully  along  the  rail,  the  prince  and 
other  military  or  naval  officers  saluting.  The  bronze  wreath, 
which  had  been  made  in  Italy,  specially  for  the  occasion, 
was  carried  into  the  tomb  by  four  Italian  bluejackets  and 
laid  near  the  bronze  wreath  which  Marshal  Joffre  had 
placed  there  a  few  weeks  before.     The  Prince  entered  the 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      75 

tomb,  his  head  uncovered,  stood  at  salute  as  the  wreath 
was  deposited,  and  then  addressed  the  party  in  English, 
as  follows: 

To-day  at  the  tomb  of  George  Washington,  while 
we  reaffirm  our  promise  never  to  hesitate  in  war 
and  to  offer  to  your  just  cause  our  fortunes  and  our 
persons,  we  affirm  solemnly  that  we  look  upon  war 
as  the  necessary  Via  Dolorosa  which  leads  to  universal 
justice  and  peace. 

I  desire  to  make  myself  the  interpreter  of  those 
sentiments  from  which  the  House  of  Savoy  has  al- 
ways derived  its  strength  and  which  to-day  form  its 
prestige.  In  the  name  of  my  august  cousin,  the  King 
of  Italy,  and  in  the  name  of  all  the  people  of  Italy, 
I  wish  solemnly  to  declare,  in  this  place  sacred  to 
the  American  nation,  that  we  shaU  never  lay  down 
our  arms  until  our  liberty  and  the  liberties  of  the 
peoples  who  are  suffering  with  us  shall  be  rendered 
safe  against  all  surprises  and  all  violence,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  I  affirm  once  more  that  our  victory  must 
be  that  of  progress  and  of  justice. 

Guglielmo  Marconi  followed  the  Prince,  speaking  also  in 
English : 

The  fellowship  of  America  in  the  struggle  is  dear 
and  welcome  to  all  the  Allies,  but  particularly  to 
Italy.  Italians  and  Americans  both  have  had  to  fight 
and  fight  hard  for  their  rights  and  their  indepen- 
dence. Millions  of  Italians  have  enjoyed  the  hos- 
pitality of  America,  have  contributed  by  their  labor 


76  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

to  its  development,  and  have  been  able  to  appreciate 
its  freedom. 

THE  PRINCE  IN  THE  SENATE 

On  May  31  the  Prince  of  Udine  on  the  floor  of  the 
Senate,  delivered,  in  the  name  of  King  Victor  Emmanuel, 
a  message  to  the  American  people,  welcoming  the  entrance 
of  the  United  States  into  the  war  as  the  final  moral  justi- 
fication of  the  cause  for  which  the  Allies  were  fighting. 
He  was  received  with  great  enthusiasm  by  the  Senate,  to 
whom  he  was  introduced  by  Vice  President  Marshall.  He 
appeared  in  the  full  dress  uniform  of  a  naval  captain  and 
was  accompanied  by  the  other  leading  members  of  the 
mission.  The  Senators,  many  members  of  the  House  and 
officials,  followed  his  slow  English  with  deep  interest.  He 
said: 

Italy  wants  the  safety  of  her  boundaries  and  her 
coast,  and  she  wants  to  secure  herself  against  new 
aggressions.  But  Italy  has  not  been  and  never  will 
be  an  element  of  discord  in  Europe,  and  as  she  willed 
her  own  free  national  existence  at  the  cost  of  any 
sacrifice,  so  she  will  contribute  with  all  her  strength 
to  the  free  existence  and  development  of  other  na- 
tions. Europe  has  been  plunged  into  the  war  with- 
out any  justifying  motives,  perhaps  without  any  mo- 
tive at  all  beyond  the  will  of  a  small  oligarchy,  and 
that  little,  guiltless  nations,  with  masterpieces  of  art 
and  treasuries  of  industry  within  their  territories,  had 
been  barbarously  sacrificed. 

You  bring  us  the  sacred  recognition  of  our  right ; 
you  bring  us  moral  confidence,  and  the  conviction 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      77 

that  our  cause  is  holy  and  that  the  great  free  de- 
mocracy shares  our  feeling,  our  spirit  and  our  hope. 

In  this  hour  of  danger,  in  which  military  absolutism 
is  threatening  every  one,  there  are  nations  that  have 
forgotten  old  and  new  competitions  and  have  united 
to  defeat  this  menace  to  the  common  safety.  We  are 
in  a  more  fortunate  position.  Between  the  United 
States  of  America  and  Italy  there  has  never  been  any 
cause  of  conflict.  This  new  and  closer  union  means 
for  us  a  greater  bond  of  sympathy  and  solidarity, 
added  to  those  which  already  linked  us. 

This  long  friendship  without  strife,  this  union 
without  mistrust,  this  cloudless  future,  are  enhanced 
by  the  fact  that  both  our  peoples  are  at  war  to  de- 
fend the  same  ideas  of  humanity  and  justice. 

You  bring  all  the  enthusiasm  of  your  national 
youth  to  science  and  to  labor.  Our  enemies  are  aware 
that  you  will  bring  into  the  war,  which  is  flooding 
Europe  with  blood  and  making  the  earth  barren,  the 
invaluable  strength  of  your  men  and  of  your  wealth. 
For  this  most  noble  adherence  to  our  cause,  given 
without  any  thought  of  conquest  or  of  material  wealth, 
we  shall  always  be  grateful  to  you. 

By  proclaiming  that  right  is  more  precious  than 
peace;  that  autocratic  governments,  supported  by 
the  force  of  arms,  are  a  menace  to  civilization;  by 
affirming  the  necessity  of  guaranteeing  the  safety  of 
the  world's  democracies;  by  proclaiming  the  right 
of  small  nations  to  live  and  to  prosper,  America  has 
now,  through  the  action  of  her  President,  acquired  a 
title  of  merit  which  history  will  never  forget. 


78  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

With  our  united  efforts  we  shall  vanquish  all  these 
difficulties,  and  that  which  the  force  of  arms,  secretly- 
prepared  and  unexpectedly  employed,  was  not  able 
to  accomplish,  will  not  be  accomplished  by  disloyal 
means  on  land  and  water.  We  shall  triumph  over  all 
these  difficulties  if  we  continue  our  efforts  in  broth- 
erly agreement,  united  by  the  great  duty  which  we 
now  have  voluntarily  taken  upon  us  for  a  cause 
which  is  superior  to  all  worldly  interests  and  which 
partakes  an  almost  divine  nobility. 

THE  PRINCE  AND  SIGNOR  MARCONI  IN  THE  HOUSE 

On  June  2  the  House  gave  an  enthusiastic  reception  to 
the  Prince  of  Udine,  Guglielmo  Marconi,  and  other  mem- 
bers of  the  Italian  commission.  They  were  escorted  to  the 
Speaker's  rostrum  amid  prolonged  applause,  the  Prince 
being  seated  on  the  right  of  the  Speaker,  who  introduced 
him.     The  Prince  said: 

Mr.  Speaker  and  Members  of  the  House,  no  one 
could  appreciate  the  honor  of  your  invitation  more 
than  myself  and  my  colleagues. 

To  address  the  Representatives  of  the  greatest 
among  new  democracies  at  a  time  when  the  destinies 
of  humanity  are  awaiting  decision,  at  a  time  when  our 
destiny  and  yours  depend  on  the  issue  of  the  war, 
to  bring  you  the  greeting  of  distant  brothers  who 
are  fighting  for  the  same  ideals  at  the  foot  of  the 
snowy  Alps  or  in  the  deadly  trenches,  to  express  to 
you  our  feelings  and  our  sympathy  for  your  feelings 
— all  those  are  for  me  so  many  reasons  for  legitimate 
pride. 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      79 

During  our  brief  stay  among  you  we  have  found 
everywhere  the  most  joyous  welcome  and  the  most 
friendly  cordiality.  Everywhere  it  was  not  only 
friendly  words  that  greeted  us  but  also  friendly  souls 
who  welcomed  us. 

We  have  felt  deeply  moved  by  this. 

We  know,  gentlemen,  that  such  cordial  sentiments, 
such  hearty  friendship,  are  meant  not  so  much  for 
our  persons  as  for  our  beautiful  and  distant  coun- 
try; our  country,  of  which  every  foot  is  sacred  to 
us  because  of  its  century-old  greatness  and  suffer- 
ings and  because  of  the  noble  share  which  it  has  al- 
ways had  in  human  thought  and  history. 

But  your  great  Republic,  when  it  grants  us  such 
courteous  hospitality,  honors  still  more  that  which 
at  the  present  moment  is  dearest  to  us — the  efforts  of 
Italy's  soldiers,  the  noble  sacrifice  of  so  many  young 
lives  freely  given  for  their  country  and  for  civiliza- 
tion and  in  defense  of  ideas  which  you  have  made 
your  own  and  which  we  all  love. 

In  the  name  of  the  soldiers  of  Italy,  one  of  whom 
I  am  proud  to  be;  in  the  name  of  all  those  who  are 
fighting  on  the  mountains,  on  the  plains,  and  on 
the  treacherous  seas;  in  the  name  of  those  to  whom 
your  words  of  friendship  have  brought  a  message 
of  hope  and  faith  across  the  ocean,  I  thank  you  from 
the  bottom  of  my  heart. 

The  aims  of  the  war  for  the  allied  nations  were 
pointed  out  by  President  Wilson  in  his  magnificent 
message,  which  will  not  only  remain  in  the  minds  of 
our  descendants  as  a  historic  event,  but  which  has  al- 


80  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

ready  aroused,  because  of  its  moral  force,  intense  ad- 
miration among  all  civilized  peoples.  We  shall  be 
satisfied,  whatever  sacrifices  we  may  be  called  upon 
to  make,  when  the  rights  of  humanity  are  assured, 
when  the  guaranties  of  peace  are  effectual,  and  when 
free  nations  are  able  to  work  for  their  own  prosperity 
and  elevation. 

President  Wilson  has  proclaimed  that  to  the  Amer- 
icans right  is  more  precious  than  peace  and  that  the 
people  of  the  United  States  are  ready  to  shed  their 
blood  in  defense  of  those  principles  in  the  name  of 
which  they  became  a  nation. 

For  the  sake  of  the  same  principles  we  are  ready 
to  face  every  sacrifice  and  every  sorrow. 

We  are  fighting  a  terrible  war.  Our  enemies  were 
long  since  prepared  for  it,  while  we  were  content  to 
live,  trusting  in  peace,  and  only  sought  to  contribute 
to  the  development  of  our  people  and  to  the  progress 
of  our  country,  almost  unconscious  of  the  clouds  which 
so  suddenly  grew  dark  over  our  heads. 

We  came  into  the  war  when  we  realized  that  there 
was  no  room  for  neutrals  and  that  neutrality  was 
neither  possible  nor  desirable,  when  the  freedom  of 
all  democratic  nations  was  threatened  and  the  very 
existence  of  free  peoples  was  at  stake. 

Ever  since  that  day  we  have  not  hesitated  before 
any  danger  or  any  suffering.  Our  wide  fighting  front 
presents  conditions  of  exceptional  difficulty.  The 
enemy  is,  or  has  been  until  now,  in  possession  of  the 
best  positions.  He  has  dug  deep  trenches;  he  has 
concealed  his  guns  among  the  mountains.     We  are 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      81 

even  compelled  to  fight  at  altitudes  of  eight  and  ten 
thousand  feet  in  spots  where  it  seemed  impossible 
that  any  fighting  should  ever  take  place.  We  are 
alone  on  our  wide  and  treacherous  front,  and  every 
step  forward  that  we  take,  every  progress  that  we 
accomplish,  costs  us  great  efforts  and  many  lives. 
The  enthusiasm  of  our  soldiers  has  often  helped  them 
among  the  glaciers  of  the  Alps  and  the  many  snares 
of  the  Carso  to  triumph  over  difficulties  which  seemed 
to  defy  every  human  effort.  But  the  deep  faith 
which  burns  in  them  kept  their  strength  alive. 

We  must,  we  will,  triumph  over  other  difficulties 
and  other  insidious  devices. 

Nature,  which  gave  us  our  pure  skies,  our  mild 
climate,  has  denied  us  almost  entirely  the  two  great 
necessities  of  modern  industry — coal  and  iron.  There- 
fore, with  industries  still  in  course  of  formation,  Italy 
has  had  ever  since  their  inception  to  overcome  obsta- 
cles which  appeared  insuperable.  Italy  occupies  one  of 
the  first  places  in  Europe  as  regards  the  number  and 
power  of  her  waterfalls;  but  this  wealth,  which  con- 
stitutes the  great  reserve  of  the  future,  has  only 
been  partly  exploited  until  now.  The  treacherous 
enemy,  who  has  long  since  prepared  the  weapons  of 
aggression,  not  having  obtained  victory  on  the  field, 
is  now  trying  by  means  of  submarine  warfare  to  en- 
danger our  existence,  to  cause  a  scarcity  of  food,  and, 
above  all,  a  scarcity  of  the  coal  which  Italy  needs  for 
her  ammunition  factories,  for  her  railways,  and  for 
her  industries. 

We  have  reduced  our  consumption  of  all  necessi- 


82  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

ties,  and  we  are  ready  to  reduce  it  still  further  within 
the  limits  of  possibility.  We  do  not  complain  of  the 
privations  that  we  have  to  endure.  Wealth  itself  has 
no  value  if  life  and  liberty  are  endangered.  And 
when  millions  of  soldiers  offer  their  young  lives  for 
their  country  there  is  not  one  among  the  civil  popula- 
tion who  is  not  ready  to  make  any  sacrifice. 

But  to  overcome  the  dangers  of  the  submarines, 
which,  in  defiance  of  every  law  of  humanity,  are  not 
only  destroying  wealth  but  endangeriug  the  lives  of 
peaceful  travelers,  sinking  hospital  ships,  and  mur- 
dering women  and  children,  we  must  all  make  a  great 
effort. 

We  must  unite  all  our  forces  to  oppose  the  strong- 
est resistance  to  the  insidious  devices  of  the  enemy. 
You  possess  a  great  and  magnificent  industrial  or- 
ganization. You,  more  than  any  one,  are  in  a  posi- 
tion to  put  an  end  to  the  enemy's  barbarous  dream 
and  to  create  with  your  energy  much  more  than  he 
can  destroy. 

This  great  and  terrible  trial  can  only  make  us 
better  men.  They  who  know  how  to  offer  to  the 
fatherland  their  wealth  and  their  lives ;  they  who  give 
themselves  unto  death  and,  more  than  themselves,  that 
which  is  sweetest  and  most  sacred,  their  children; 
they  who  are  ready  to  suffer  and  to  die;  they 
will  know  when  the  morrow  dawns  how  to  contribute 
to  civilization  new  elements  of  moral  nobility  and  of 
strength. 

We  must  not  grieve  over  our  sorrows.    When  we 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      83 

fight  for  the  rights  of  humanity  we  are  conscious  that 
we   are  elevating  ourselves  morally. 

When  America  proclaimed  herself  one  with  us  a 
great  joy  ran  through  every  city  and  every  little 
village  of  Italy.  We  knew  the  full  value  of  your  co- 
operation, and  at  the  same  time  we  appreciated  the 
nobility  of  your  sentiments. 

The  famines  of  3,000,000  Italians  who  dwell  in  the 
United  States  under  the  protection  of  your  hospitable 
and  just  laws  felt  a  deep  sense  of  joy. 

Mr.  Speaker  and  Members  of  the  House,  the  words 
which  His  Majesty  the  King  of  Italy,  first  among  our 
soldiers,  wrote  to  your  President  expressed  his  feel- 
ings and  those  of  all  his  people. 

To-morrow  when  the  news  reaches  Italy  that  this 
Congress,  which  represents  the  will  of  the  American 
Nation,  has  desired  to  give  to  our  mission  the  su- 
preme honor  of  welcoming  it  in  its  midst  your  friend- 
ly words  will  reach  the  farthermost  points  where  men 
are  fighting  and  suffering.  And  in  the  trenches,  at 
the  foot  of  the  majestic  Alps,  there  where  the  strug- 
gle is  bitterest  and  where  death  is  ever  present,  a 
thrill  of  joy  and  of  hope  will  be  felt — the  joy  of  a 
sincere  union,  the  hope  of  certain  victory. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  Princess  address,  the  Speaker 
said  he  was  "certain  that  every  member  of  the  House  would 
be  delighted  to  see  and  hear  the  man  who  invented  wireless 
telegraphy,  Signor  Marconi."  Prolonged  applause  greeted 
the  inventor  when  he  rose  to  reply: 

Mr.  Speaker  and  Members  of  the  House,  I  appre- 


84  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

ciate  very  highly  the  honor  and  the  privilege  of  be- 
ing allowed  to  say  a  word  to  you  in  this  assembly. 
Up  to  two  minutes  ago  I  did  not  know  that  I  would 
have  the  honor  of  being  called  upon  to  say  a  few 
words  here,  and  I  sincerely  thank  the  Speaker  for 
the  privilege.  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  listening  to 
the  words  spoken  by  the  chief  of  our  mission,  his 
royal  highness  the  Prince  of  Udine,  and  there  is  very 
little  that  I  could  add  to  his  expressions  or  to  his 
feelings,  which  are  the  feelings  of  the  whole  of  Italy, 
which  are  feelings  of  friendship  for  this  country  and 
of  appreciation  for  the  great  step  which  it  has  taken  in 
joining  us  and  our  allies  in  Europe  in  this  great  war. 
There  is  one  thing  that  I  can  add,  however.  It  is 
that  it  was  my  privilege  to  live  for  many  years  in 
America  and  I  think  I  know  America  and  Americans 
fairly  well.  I  flatter  myself  that  I  know  them  very 
well.  No  one  more  than  myself  rejoices  in  the  fact 
that  we  in  Italy  have  America  with  us.  I  have  worked 
in  America  and  America  has  always  been,  in  a  large 
way,  in  my  plans,  for  without  America  my  work 
could  not  have  succeeded.  I  have  learned  to  appre- 
ciate in  America  two  things  that  I  can  express  in  two 
words — justice  and  fair  play.  You  are  ready  to  back 
anything  that  you  think  may  be  of  good  to  the  world, 
and  you  are  ready  to  encourage  any  honest  endeavor 
to  advance  science  or  the  applications  of  science; 
and  although  you  are  the  greatest  industrial  Nation 
in  the  world,  although  there  is  healthy  competition — 
and  it  is  only  by  that  healthy  competition  there  can 
be  such  progress — what  you  do  here  is  always  fair. 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      85 

I  can  say  that  with  absolute  conviction  from  the  bot- 
tom of  my  heart. 

Mr.  Speaker,  and  gentlemen  of  the  House,  I  thank 
you  very  much  for  the  way  in  which  you  have  re- 
ceived this  mission,  for  the  way  in  which  you  have 
received  the  utterances  of  His  Royal  Highness,  the 
president  of  our  mission,  and  for  the  way  in  which 
you  have  received  the  very  few  remarks  I  have  been 
able  to  improvise. 

BARON    MONCHEUR   IN    WASHINGTON 

On  June  20  Baron  Moncheur,  of  the  Belgian  mission, 
expressed  to  the  American  people,  through  the  Washing- 
ton correspondents,  Belgium's  gratitude  for  America's  "gen- 
erous outpouring  of  material  assistance  and  sympathy,"  and 
paid  a  special  tribute  to  Herbert  C.  Hoover  for  his  Belgian 
relief  work,  as  follows: 

The  purpose  of  our  visit  to  this  country  is  to  ex- 
press to  your  Government  and  people  the  heartfelt 
gratitude  of  Belgium  for  the  generous  outpouring  of 
material  assistance  and  sympathy  which  have  gone 
so  far  to  save  my  stricken  countrymen  from  the  hor- 
rors of  famine  and  to  maintain  their  unshaken  cour- 
age in  this  hour  of  trial. 

Our  warm  gratitude  to  j'ou  for  this  help  will 
never  cool,  but  you  are  now  adding  still  more  to  our 
great  debt.  Our  people,  saved  from  famine,  still 
groan  under  the  yoke  of  a  merciless  invader.  Of  all 
the  peoples  of  the  world  none  have  ever  had  a  more 
flaming  love  of  liberty  than  those  of  Belgium,  and 


86  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

this  makes  their  suffering  the  more  acute.  Your  en- 
try into  the  war  not  only  brings  to  us  the  satisfaction 
of  finding  in  an  old  friend  a  new  ally,  but  fires  us  with 
complete  confidence  in  an  early  and  victorious  issue 
of  the  great  struggle  which  has  brought  to  my  coun- 
try so  much  of  misery  and  suffering. 

Our  admiration  for  your  decision  in  entering  the 
war  is  all  the  greater  because  we  know  that  you  did 
so  in  full  knowledge  of  all  its  horrors,  and  realized 
fully  the  sacrifices  you  will  be  called  upon  to  make, 
the  tears  that  will  flow,  the  inevitable  heartache  and 
sorrow  that  will  darken  your  homes.  This  shows  us, 
as  nothing  else  could,  the  determination  of  your  coun- 
try to  see  that  when  peace  comes  it  shall  be  an  honest 
peace,  one  that  can  last,  and  one  that  will  bring  free- 
dom and  happiness  to  all  nations. 

In  voicing  my  country's  gratitude  I  am  happy  to 
be  able  to  pay  a  tribute  of  admiration  and  affection 
to  Mr.  Hoover,  under  whose  able  and  untiring  direc- 
tion the  great  work  of  feeding  Belgium  was  carried 
on.  We  rejoice  for  you  that  a  man  so  eminently  fitted 
by  ability  and  experience  should  be  at  your  service 
in  handling  the  great  food  problems  that  confront 
you. 

From  being  one  of  the  foremost  industrial  nations 
of  the  world,  ranking  fourth  among  exporting  coun- 
tries, Belgium  for  the  time  being  has  been  ruthlessly 
wiped  out.  Her  factories  are  closed.  With  cold  cal- 
culation for  the  ruin  of  the  country,  the  invader  has 
even  removed  the  machinery  from  our  factories  and 
shipped  it  to  Germany  as  part  of  a  far-sighted  and 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      87 

cynical  program  of  economic  annihilation.  And, 
worst  of  all,  a  part  of  Belgium's  unoffending  labor- 
ing class  has  been  torn  from  their  families  and  sent 
to  toil  in  Germany  under  a  system  that  would  have 
offended  the  moral  sense  of  the  Middle  Ages. 

But  this  is  only  a  passing  phase.  Belgian  con- 
fidence and  courage  have  never  wavered.  On  the  day 
of  deliverance  sounds  of  industry  will  again  be  heard. 
And  on  that  final  day  of  victory  the  friendship  of  our 
two  peoples,  purified  in  the  fire  of  suffering,  will 
emerge  greater  and  stronger  than  ever  and  unite  us 
in  even  stronger  bonds  that  shall,  God  willing,  never 
be  broken. 

On  June  17  the  Belgian  Commissioners  called  at  the 
White  House  and  handed  President  Wilson  an  autograph 
letter  from  King  Albert,  which  read  as  follows : 

I  commend  to  Your  Excellency's  kindly  reception 
the  mission  which  bears  this  letter.  This  mission  will 
express  to  the  President  the  feelings  of  understand- 
ing and  enthusiastic  admiration  with  which  my  gov- 
ernment and  people  have  received  the  decision  reached 
by  him  in  his  wisdom.  The  mission  will  also  tell  you 
how  greatly  the  important  and  glorious  role  enacted 
by  the  United  States  has  confirmed  the  confidence 
which  the  Belgian  nation  has  always  had  in  free 
America's  spirit  of  justice. 

The  great  American  nation  was  particularly  moved 
by  the  unwarranted  and  violent  attacks  made  upon 
Belgium.  It  has  sorrowed  over  the  distress  of  my  sub- 
jects, subjected  to  the  yoke  of  the  enemy.    It  has  sue- 


88  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

cored  them  with  incomparable  generosity.  I  am  happy 
to  have  an  opportunity  again  to  express  to  Your  Ex- 
cellency the  gratitude  which  my  country  owes  you 
and  the  firm  hope  entertained  by  Belgium  that  on  the 
day  of  reparation,  toward  which  America  will  con- 
tribute so  bountifully,  full  and  entire  justice  will  be 
rendered  to  my  country. 

My  government  has  chosen  to  express  its  sentiments 
to  Your  Excellency  through  two  distinguished  men, 
whose  services  will  command  credence  for  what  they 
have  to  say — Baron  Moncheur,  who  for  eight  years 
was  my  representative  at  Washington,  and  Lieutenant 
General  Leclercq,  who  has  earned  high  appreciation 
during  a  long  military  career. 

I  venture  to  hope,  Mr.  President,  that  you  will  ac- 
cord full  faith  and  credence  to  everything  that  they 
say,  especially  when  they  assure  you  of  the  hopes  I 
entertain  for  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  the 
United  States  of  America  and  of  my  faithful  and  very 
sincere  friendship.  Albert. 

In  presenting  the  King's  letter.  Baron  Moncheur  said: 

Since  the  first  days  of  the  greatest  tragedy  which 
has  ever  befallen  humanity,  Belgium  has  contracted 
an  immense  debt  of  gratitude  to  the  generous  Amer- 
ican nation.  In  a  magnificent  outburst  of  sympathy 
for  the  little  country  which  had  chosen  to  delay  a 
powerful  and  pitiless  enemy  rather  than  to  tarnish 
its  honor  or  forswear  its  plighted  word,  the  initiative 
of  American  citizens  gave  to  the  unfortunate  victims 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      89 

of  German  cruelty  in  Belgium  the  most  splendid  evi- 
dences of  generosity. 

But  the  chivalrous  sentiments  which  animate  the 
people  of  the  United  States  went  further  than  this 
when  President  Wilson,  giving  an  admirable  example 
of  disinterested  power,  uttered  the  words  well  fitted 
to  make  us  tremble  with  hope  and  to  cause  us  to  ^x 
our  eyes  confidently  upon  the  starry  banner  which 
has  become  more  than  ever  the  symbol  of  strength 
placed  at  the  service  of  the  highest  and  most  pure 
principles. 

Yes,  Belgium  will  again  take  her  place  among  the 
nations.  The  enemy  brought  us  massacre  and  dev- 
astation, but  there  still  remains  to  the  Belgian  people 
their  soil,  made  fertile  by  the  toil  of  their  ancestors ; 
there  still  remains  to  Belgium  an  industrious  popula- 
tion of  unconquerable  energy. 

Leaning  upon  the  young,  strong,  and  generous  hand 
which  the  American  people  holds  out  to  her,  Belgium, 
once  she  is  delivered  from  the  oppression  of  the 
enemy,  will  arise,  and,  throwing  aside  the  odious 
weight  of  foreign  occupation,  will,  courageously  and 
proudly,  resume  the  path  of  progress  in  the  light  of 
the  sun  of  liberty. 

President  Wilson,  in  thanking  Baron  Moneheur,  and 
through  him  King  Albert,  said: 

Your  Excellency  is  good  enough  to  express  the 
thanks  of  the  Belgian  people  for  the  participation  of 
America  in  feeding  the  people  of  your  stricken  coun- 
try.    This  work  in  which  so  many  Americans  have 


90  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

been  enthusiastically  engaged  since  the  beginning  of 
the  war  is  one  which  has  brought  as  much  benefit 
to  them  as  to  the  innocent  civilian  population  whom 
it  was  intended  to  aid. 

America  engaged  upon  this  work  as  being  the  only- 
means,  however  inadequate,  of  expressing  our  deep 
and  sincere  admiration  for  the  valiant  nation  that 
has  gone  forth  unhesitatingly  to  meet  the  onslaughts 
of  a  ruthless  enemy  rather  than  sacrifice  her  honor 
and  her  self-respect. 

The  American  people  have  been  able  to  understand 
and  glory  in  the  unflinching  heroism  of  the  Belgian 
people  and  their  sovereign,  and  there  is  not  one  among 
us  who  does  not  to-day  welcome  the  opportunity  of 
expressing  to  you  our  heartfelt  sympathy  and  friend- 
ship, and  our  solemn  determination  that  on  the  in- 
evitable day  of  victory  Belgium  shall  be  restored  to 
the  place  she  has  so  richly  won  among  the  self- 
respecting  and  respected  nations  of  the  earth. 

BARON   MONCHEUR  IN   THE   SENATE 

On  June  22,  the  Belgian  Mission  was  received  in  the  Sen- 
ate Chamber  with  a  great  demonstration.  Baron  Moncheur 
made  an  address  and  at  its  conclusion  all  the  Senators  were 
presented  to  him  and  to  the  other  members  of  the  com- 
mission.   His  address  was  as  follows: 

You  all  know  the  unspeakable  evils  which  have  be- 
fallen my  unfortunate  country — ^the  unprovoked  in- 
vasion, accompanied  by  a  deliberate  system  of  terror, 
the  burning  of  many  of  our  thriving  cities,  and  of 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      91 

innumerable  villages,  the  massacre  of  thousands  of  our 
peaceful  citizens,  the  pillage  and  devastation  of  our 
country. 

Then  followed  the  iron  hand  of  foreign  domina- 
tion, enormous  war  contributions  exacted  from  all 
the  nine  provinces  of  Belgium,  ruinous  requisitions 
of  all  sorts  from  our  people,  the  seizure  of  the  raw 
material  of  industry,  and  even  the  theft  of  our  ma- 
chinery which  was  sent  into  the  country  of  our  enemy 
for  his  own  use,  so  that  now  the  silence  of  death 
reigns  in  our  industrial  centers  which  before  had 
been  the  most  active  in  Europe. 

You  also  know,  gentlemen,  the  way  in  which  this 
regime  of  oppression  has  been  carried  out — eighty 
thousand  Belgians  condemned  in  the  space  of  one 
year  to  various  penalties  for  having  displeased  the 
invader,  as,  for  example,  the  noble  Burgomaster  of 
Brussels,  who  has  been  in  imprisonment  for  the  past 
two  years  for  trying  to  uphold  the  principle  of  civic 
liberty  which  for  centuries  has  been  so  dear  to  all 
Belgians. 

You  have  learned  also  of  the  deportation  of  our 
workmen  into  Germany — a  crime  the  horrors  of  which, 
according  to  the  opinion  of  one  of  our  countrymen, 
should  cause  more  indignation  throughout  the  entire 
world  than  all  the  previous  outrages  against  the  sacred 
principles  of  justice  and  of  humanity. 

But  Belgium,  even  in  the  midst  of  the  terrible  mis- 
fortunes which  have  been  brought  upon  her  by  her 
fidelity  to  treaties  and  by  respect  for  her*  plighted 
word,  does  not  regret  her  decision,  and  there  is  not 


92  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

a  single  Belgian  worthy  of  the  name  who  does  not 
now,  as  on  the  first  day  of  war,  approve  the  judgment 
of  our  Government  that  it  is  better  to  die,  if  need  be, 
rather  than  to  live  without  honor.  Like  Patrick 
Henry,  all  Belgians  say,  '  *  Give  me  liberty  or  give  me 
death." 

This  sentiment  will  be  shared  by  all  the  citizens  of 
the  great  American  nation,  who  responded  with  such 
enthusiasm  and  with  such  unanimity  to  the  noble 
words  of  your  President,  when,  in  terms  which  held 
the  world  spellbound,  he  proclaimed  the  imprescrip- 
tible right  of  justice  over  force. 

The  courage  of  my  fellow-countrymen  has  been 
strengthened,  also,  by  the  sympathy  for  our  misfor- 
tunes which  has  been  manifested  throughout  your 
great  land.  American  initiative  has  bestowed  most 
generous  help  upon  our  starving  population,  and  in 
offering  from  this  tribune  the  expression  of  grati- 
tude of  every  Belgian  heart,  I  wish,  also,  to  render 
special  homage  to  that  admirable  organization,  the 
Commission  for  Relief  in  Belgium,  which  has  done  so 
much  to  save  our  people  from  starvation. 

Yes,  gentlemen,  the  sympathy  of  America  gives  us 
new  courage,  and  while  King  Albert,  who  since  the 
fateful  day  when  our  territory  was  violated,  has  re- 
mained steadfastly  at  the  front,  continues  the  strug- 
gle with  indomitable  energy  at  the  head  of  our  army 
intrenched  upon  the  last  strip  of  our  soil  that  re- 
mains to  us,  while  the  Queen,  that  worthy  companion 
of  a  great  sovereign,  expends  her  unceasing  efforts 
to  comfort  and  relieve  the  victims  of  battle,  exciting 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      93 

enthusiasm  by  her  contempt  for  the  danger  to  which 
she  exposes  herself  day  by  day,  on  the  other  side  of 
the  enemy's  lines  of  steel  stand  the  Belgian  people, 
bowed  between  the  yoke  but  never  conquered,  main- 
taining their  unshaken  patriotism  in  spite  of  the 
enemy  as  well  as  in  spite  of  his  iron  rule.  The  Bel- 
gian population,  a  martyr  whose  courage  is  upheld 
by  our  great  Cardinal  Mercier,  awaits  silently  in  the 
sacred  union  of  all  parties  the  final  hour  of  deliver- 
ance. 

That  hour,  gentlemen,  will,  I  am  convinced,  be 
materially  hastened  by  the  powerful  aid  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  time  approaches  when  Belgium,  re- 
stored to  full  and  complete  independence,  both  polit- 
ically and  economically,  will  be  able  to  thank  in  a 
fitting  manner  all  those  who  have  aided  her  to  emerge 
from  the  darkness  of  the  tomb  into  the  glorious  light 
of  a  new  life. 

BARON  MONCHEUB  IN  THE  HOUSE 

On  June  27  the  Belgian  Mission,  headed  by  Baron  Mon- 
ebeur,  was  received  in  the  House,  the  galleries  crowded, 
and  the  floor  filled  with  members,  who  gave  them  a  cor- 
dial reception.    Baron  Moneheur  spoke,  in  part,  as  follows : 

If,  years  ago,  I  admired  your  country  in  the  fulness 
of  prosperity,  and  wondered  at  your  industrial  genius 
and  the  marvelous  activity  of  your  citizens,  it  is  with 
even  greater  admiration  that  I  now  see  your  entire 
nation  rise  as  one  man  to  answer  the  voice  of  your 
President  calling  upon  you  to  put  forth  all  your 
efforts  and  devotion  for  the  defense  of  freedom  and 


94  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

the  rights  of  mankind.  All  the  sons  of  America,  with- 
out distinction  of  race  or  of  party,  have  rallied  to 
your  flag.  They  think  only  of  their  duty  to  their 
country.  They  are  ever  ready  to  sacrifice  their  pri- 
vate and  personal  interests  and,  leaving  behind  them 
their  dear  ones,  who  will  be  plunged  in  grief  and  tears 
on  account  of  their  absence,  they  rally  to  the  Star- 
Spangled  Banner,  which  for  the  first  time  in  your  his- 
tory has  crossed  the  ocean  to  float  over  the  battlefields 
of  the  Old  World. 

As  in  the  Middle  Ages  the  knights  were  accustomed 
to  hold  a  vigil,  watching  their  armor  in  the  chapel,  so 
you  to-day  are  making  the  same  holy  and  prayerful 
preparation  for  the  battle  to  come.  Everywhere  you 
are  carrying  on  work  which  day  by  day  brings  nearer 
the  moment  of  supreme  victory.  While  the  flower  of 
American  youth  is  preparing  itself  in  your  splendid 
training  camps,  your  shipyards,  your  factories,  and 
your  munition  plants  sound  with  the  hum  of  feverish 
work  providing  your  soldiers  with  the  implements  of 
war.  American  aviation,  that  marvelous  product  of 
the  New  World,  is  making  ready  to  lend  its  powerful 
aid,  also,  to  support  our  armies.  Is  it  not  natural 
indeed  that  the  American  Eagle  should  from  the  skies 
strike  the  death  blow  to  the  enemy? 

After  your  great  stroke  for  liberty  in  1776  you 
formed  a  society  which  you  called  the  Order  of  the 
Cincinnati  to  indicate  that  when  war  was  finished  you 
knew  how  to  beat  your  swords  into  plowshares;  and 
now,  when  war  has  been  forced  upon  you,  you  have 
given  proof  that  you  know  equally  well  how  to  turn 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      95 

your  plowshares  into  swords.  Some  twenty  years 
ago  Prince  Albert,  of  Belgium,  heir  to  a  throne  which 
seemed  to  be  safely  sheltered  from  the  blast  of  war, 
came  to  America,  where  he  studied  with  the  deepest 
interest  your  marvelous  country  and  the  wonderful 
works  of  industry  and  commerce  which  you  had  devel- 
oped in  the  quietude  of  peace.  And  now  how  can  I 
express  the  sentiment  which  fills  his  heroic  soul  when, 
fighting  at  the  head  of  his  troops  in  the  last  trench 
on  Belgian  soil,  he  sees  the  sons  of  that  same  indus- 
trious America  land  upon  the  coast  of  Europe,  brave 
champions  of  the  most  noble  principles,  and  ready  to 
lay  down  their  lives  in  defense  of  right  and  justice. 

On  a  certain  occasion  a  mighty  sovereign  declared, 
*  *  the  Pyrenees  exist  no  more, ' '  and  to-day  we  can  say 
with  even  more  truth,  *Hhere  is  no  longer  any  ocean'* 
— for  endless  friendship,  cemented  by  gratitude  and 
joint  effort  and  suffering  in  the  cause  of  justice  and 
liberty,  will  forever  obliterate  the  barrier  of  the  seas 
and  unite  the  children  of  old  Belgium  to  the  sons 
of  the  young  and  powerful  republic  of  the  New  World. 

ME.   BAKHMETIEFF  IN   WASHINGTON 

On  June  21  the  determination  of  Russia  to  war  with  Ger- 
man autocracy  to  the  end  was  avowed  in  Washington  by 
Special  Ambassador  Boris  A.  Bakhmetieff,  head  of  the  Rus- 
sian mission,  in  a  statement  to  the  American  people.  Only 
through  victory,  he  said,  could  a  stable  world-peace  and 
the  fruits  of  the  Russian  revolution  be  secured.  This  state- 
ment read: 

In  behalf  of  the  Russian  Provisional  Government 


i 


96  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

and  in  behalf  of  all  the  people  of  new  Russia,  I  have 
been  first  of  all  sent  here  to  express  their  gratitude 
to  the  Government  of  the  United  States  for  the 
prompt  recognition  of  the  new  political  order  in  Rus- 
sia. 

This  noble  action  of  the  world 's  greatest  democracy 
has  afforded  us  strong  moral  support  and  has  created 
among  the  people  a  general  feeling  of  profound  ap- 
preciation. Close  and  active  relationship  between  the 
two  nations  based  upon  complete  and  sincere  under- 
standing encountered  inevitable  obstacles  during  the 
old  regime  because  of  its  very  nature.  The  situa- 
tion is  now  radically  changed  with  free  Russia  start- 
ing a  new  era  in  her  national  life.  The  natural  and 
deep  feeling  of  sympathy  which  always  existed  be- 
tween the  people  of  the  two  great  nations  will  grow 
now  by  the  force  of  events  into  a  stable  friendship, 
into  permanent  and  active  cooperation. 

I  have  been  in  this  country  heretofore  on  several 
occasions.  I  have  here  many  friends  and  have  al- 
ways looked  forward  to  a  close  union  and  friend- 
ship between  the  United  States  and  Russia.  The 
United  States,  with  its  enormous  natural  resources 
and  its  wonderful  genius  for  organization,  can  now 
greatly  aid  in  the  work  of  reconstruction  which  is 
taking  place  in  Russia. 

Another  object  of  our  mission  is  to  establish  the 
most  effective  means  by  which  the  American  and  Rus- 
sian democracies  can  work  hand  in  hand  in  the  com- 
mon task  of  successfully  carrying  on  the  war.     The 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      97 

friendly  assistance  which  the  United  States  has  al- 
ready rendered  has  been  of  the  highest  value. 

The  Provisional  Government  is  actually  mobilizing 
all  its  resources  and  is  making  great  efforts  to  organ- 
ize the  country  and  the  army  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
ducting the  war.  We  hope  to  establish  a  very  close 
and  active  cooperation  with  the  United  States  in  order 
to  secure  the  most  successful  and  intensive  accom- 
plishments of  all  work  necessary  for  our  common  end. 
For  the  purpose  of  discussing  all  matters  relating  to 
military  affairs,  munitions  and  supplies,  railways 
and  transportations,  finance  and  agriculture,  our  mis- 
sion includes  eminent  and  distinguished  specialists. 

On  the  other  hand,  I  hope  that  the  result  of  our 
stay  and  work  in  America  will  bring  about  a  clear 
understanding  on  the  part  of  your  public  of  what 
has  happened  in  Russia,  and  also  of  the  present  situa- 
tion and  the  end  for  which  our  people  are  most  ear- 
nestly striving.  There  have  been  many  and  various 
narratives  of  what  has  been  and  is  taking  place  in 
Russia,  but  there  seems  to  be  lack  of  exact  and  true 
comprehension.  Our  commission  will  make  every  en- 
deavor to  throw  light  upon  the  very  great  and  world 
important  events  of  the  Russian  Revolution. 

The  achievements  of  the  revolution  are  to  be  for- 
mally set  forth  in  fundamental  laws  enacted  by  a 
Constitutional  Assembly,  which  is  to  be  convoked  as 
soon  as  possible.  In  the  meanwhile  the  Provisional 
Government  is  confronted  with  the  task  of  bringing 
into  life  the  democratic  principles  which  were  pro- 
mulgated during  the  revolution.     It  is  actively  en- 


98  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

gaged  in  reconstructing  the  very  life  of  the  entire 
country  along  democratic  lines,  introducing  freedom, 
equality  and  self-government. 

New  Russia  received  from  the  old  Government  a 
burdensome  heritage  of  economic  and  technical  dis- 
organization, which  affected  all  branches  of  the  life 
of  the  State,  a  disorganization  which  weighs  yet  heav- 
ily on  the  whole  country.  The  Provisional  Govern- 
ment is  doing  everything  in  its  power  to  relieve  the 
difficult  situation.  It  has  adopted  many  measures 
for  supplying  plants  with  raw  material  and  fuel,  for 
regulating  the  transportation  of  the  food  supply  for 
the  army  and  for  the  country  and  for  relieving  the 
financial  difficulties. 

In  this  energetic  work  of  reconstruction,  essential 
for  Russia's  active  participation  in  the  war,  the  Pro- 
visional Government  is  steadily  gaining  in  strength 
and  activity.  The  latest  reports  demonstrate  that  the 
new  Government  has  the  capacity  to  carry  on  its 
work  with  vigor  along  practical  lines,  and  is  exercis- 
ing real  power  which  is  daily  increasing.  Such  power 
is  based  on  the  general  confidence  and  full  and  whole- 
hearted support  accorded  to  the  new  coalition  Minis- 
try. 

The  participation  in  the  new  Government  by  new 
members  who  are  active  and  prominent  leaders  in  the 
Council  of  Workmen  and  Soldiers  has  secured  full 
support  from  the  democratic  masses.  The  esteem  in 
which  such  leaders  as  Mr.  Kerensky  and  others  are 
held  among  the  working  classes  and  soldiers  is  con- 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND      99 

tributing  to  the  strength  and  stability  of  the  new 
Government. 

The  Constitutional-Democratic  Party,  the  Labor 
Party,  the  Socialist-Populists,  and  excepting  a  small 
group  of  extremists,  the  Social  Democrats — all  these 
parties,  embracing  the  vast  majority  of  the  people,  are 
represented  by  strong  leaders  in  the  new  Govern- 
ment, thereby  securing  for  it  authority.  Firmly  con- 
vinced that  unity  of  power  is  essential  and  casting 
aside  class  and  special  interests,  all  social  and  political 
elements  have  joined  in  the  national  program  which 
the  new  Government  proclaimed  and  which  it  is  striv- 
ing to  fiulfil.    This  program  follows : 

**The  Provisional  Government,  rejecting,  in  accord 
with  the  whole  people  of  Russia,  all  thought  of  sep- 
arate peace,  puts  it  openly  as  its  deliberate  purpose 
the  promptest  achievement  of  universal  peace,  such 
peace  to  presume  no  dominion  over  other  nations,  no 
seizure  of  their  national  property  nor  any  forced 
usurpation  of  foreign  territory;  peace  with  no  an- 
nexations or  contributions,  based  upon  the  free  de- 
termination by  each  nation  of  its  destinies. 

**  Being  fully  convinced  that  the  establishment  of 
democratic  principles  in  its  internal  and  external 
policy  has  created  a  new  factor  in  the  striving  of 
allied  democracies  for  durable  peace  and  fraternity 
of  all  nations,  the  Provisional  Government  will  take 
preparatory  steps  for  an  agreement  with  the  Allies 
founded  on  its  declaration  of  March  27.  The  Pro- 
visional Government  is  conscious  that  the  defeat  of 
Russia  and  her  Allies  would  be  the  source  of  the 


100  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

greatest  misery  and  would  not  only  postpone  but  even 
make  impossible  the  establishment  of  universal  peace 
on  a  firm  basis. 

'  *  The  Provisional  Government  is  convinced  that  the 
revolutionary  army  of  Russia  will  not  allow  the  Ger- 
man troops  to  destroy  our  Allies  on  the  western  front 
and  then  fall  upon  us  with  the  whole  might  of  their 
weapons.  The  chief  aim  of  the  Provisional  Govern- 
ment will  be  to  fortify  the  democratic  foundations  of 
the  army  and  organize  and  consolidate  the  army's 
fighting  power  for  its  defensive  as  well  as  offensive 
purposes. ' ' 

The  last  decision  of  the  Russian  Congress  of  the 
Workingmen 's  and  Soldiers'  Delegates,  the  decision  of 
the  All-Russian  Peasant  Congress,  the  decision  of  the 
Duma,  the  voice  of  the  country  as  expressed  from 
day  to  day  by  almost  the  entire  Russian  press,  in  reso- 
lutions adopted  at  different  conferences  and  con- 
gresses— all  these  confirm  their  full  support  to  this 
national  program  and  leave  not  the  slightest  doubt 
that  Russia  is  decided  as  to  the  necessity  to  fight  the 
German  autocracy  until  the  conditions  for  a  general 
and  stable  peace  in  Europe  are  established. 

Such  decision  is  becoming  more  and  more  evident 
each  day  by  practical  work  and  results  and  shows  it- 
self in  the  pressing  and  rapid  reorganization  of  the 
army  which  is  now  being  fulfilled  under  the  firm  and 
efficient  measures  adopted  by  Minister  Kerensky. 

The  Russian  people  thoroughly  understand  and  are 
fully  convinced  that  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to  root 
out  the  autocratic  principles  which  underlie  and  are 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RIGHMMD    10.1 

represented  by  German  militarism  and  which  threaten 
the  peace,  the  freedom  and  the  happiness  of  the 
world.  The  Russian  people  feel  most  keenly  that  no 
stable  peace  can  be  secured  until  the  German  auto- 
cratic principles  are  destroyed,  and  that  otherwise  the 
revolution  will  have  been  in  vain  and  its  achievements 
will  perish. 

New  Russia,  in  full  accord  with  the  motives  which 
impelled  the  United  States  to  enter  the  war,  is  striv- 
ing to  destroy  tyranny,  to  establish  peace  on  a  se- 
cure and  permanent  foundation  and  to  make  the  world 
safe  for  democracy.  We  are  representing  here  the 
political  unity  which  has  been  crystallized  in  Russia 
and  around  which  a  national  program  has  been  de- 
veloped. To  our  host  of  friends  in  the  United  States 
we  appeal  and  without  distinction  of  party  or  class 
we  will  work  hand  in  hand  for  the  common  cause. 

The  Russian  mission  was  entertained  the  same  evening 
by  President  Wilson  at  a  state  dinner  at  the  White  House 
with  members  of  the  Cabinet,  Congressional  leaders  and 
high  officials  of  the  army  and  navy  present. 

MB.   BAKHMETIEFF   IN   THE  HOUSE 

Professor  Boris  Bakhmetieff  and  other  members  of  the 
Russian  Commission  received  a  tumultuous  reception  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  on  June  23,  when  they  gave  as- 
surance of  their  country's  earnest  purpose  to  continue  the 
war.  The  event  was  perhaps  the  most  hearty  and  spon- 
taneous of  all  the  receptions  given  to  special  commissioners 
of  foreign  powers.  Half  a  dozen  times  members  rose  and 
applauded.    It  was  sometimes  necessary  for  the  Speaker  to 


X02  BAL?OUR,  VIVI4-NI  AND  JOFFRE 

bang  his  gavel  to  stop  the  uproar.  Members  who  on  previ- 
ous visits  of  missions  had  merely  applauded  or  remained 
quietly  in  their  seats,  now  cheered  loudly.  Men,  women, 
and  children  in  the  galleries  caught  the  wave  of  enthusiasm, 
shouting  and  waving  handkerchiefs.  Professor  Bakhmetieff, 
who  spoke  in  excellent  English  and  with  much  fervor, 
said: 

When  addressing  you  on  behalf  of  the  Govern- 
ment and  the  people  of  new  Russia,  when  conveying 
to  you  the  greetings  of  the  new-born  Russian  de- 
mocracy, you  will  conceive  how  impressed  I  am  by  the 
historical  significance  of  this  moment. 

Does  not  one  feel  occasionally  that  the  very  great- 
ness and  significance  of  events  are  not  fully  appre- 
ciated, due  to  the  facility  and  spontaneity  with  which 
the  great  change  has  been  completed  ?  Does  one  real- 
ize what  it  really  means  to  humanity  that  a  nation 
of  180,000,000,  a  country  boundless  in  expanse,  has 
been  suddenly  set  free  from  the  worst  of  oppression, 
has  been  given  the  joy  of  a  free,  self-conscious  ex- 
istence ? 

Instead  of  the  old  forms  there  are  now  being  firmly 
established  and  deeply  embedded  in  the  minds  of  the 
nation  principles  that  power  is  reposed  and  springs 
from  and  only  from  the  people.  To  effectuate  these 
principles  and  to  enact  appropriate  fundamental  laws 
is  going  to  be  the  main  function  of  the  constitutional 
assembly  which  is  to  be  convoked  as  promptly  as 
possible. 

This  assembly,  elected  on  a  democratic  basis,  is  to 
represent  the  will  and  constructive  power  of  the  na- 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND    103 

tion.  It  will  inaugurate  the  forms  of  future  political 
existence  as  well  as  establish  the  fundamental  basis 
of  economic  structure  of  future  Russia.  Eventually 
all  main  questions  of  national  being  will  be  brought 
before  and  will  be  decided  by  the  constitutional  as- 
sembly, constitution,  civil  and  criminal  law,  adminis- 
tration, nationalities,  religion,  reorganization  of 
finance,  land  problem,  conditionment  of  labor,  anni- 
hilation of  all  restrictive  legislation,  encouragement  of 
intense  and  fruitful  development  of  the  country. 
These  are  the  tasks  of  the  assembly,  the  aspirations 
and  hopes  of  the  nation. 

Gentlemen  of  the  House,  do  you  not  really  feel 
that  the  assembly  is  expected  to  bring  into  life  once 
more  the  grand  principle  which  your  illustrious  Pres- 
ident so  aptly  expressed  in  the  sublime  words,  *  *  Gov- 
ernment by  consent  of  the  governed ' '  ?  It  is  the  Pro- 
visional Government  that  is  governing  Russia  at  pres- 
ent. It  is  the  task  of  the  Provisional  Government  to 
conduct  Russia  safely  to  the  constitutional  assembly. 

Guided  by  democratic  precepts,  the  Provisional 
Government  meanwhile  is  reorganizing  the  country  on 
the  basis  of  freedom,  equality,  and  self-government, 
rebuilding  its  economic  and  financial  structure. 

The  outstanding  feature  of  the  present  Government 
is  its  recognition  as  fundamental  and  all  impor- 
tant of  the  principles  of  legality.  It  is  manifestly 
understood  in  Russia  that  the  law,  having  its  origin  in 
the  people 's  will,  is  the  substance  of  the  very  existence 
of  the  State. 

Reposing  confidence  in  such  rule,  the  Russian  peo- 


104  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

pie  are  rendering  to  the  new  authorities  their  support. 
The  people  are  realizing  more  and  more  that  for  the 
very  sake  of  further  freedom  law  must  be  maintained 
and  manifestation  of  anarchy  suppressed. 

In  this  respect  local  life  has  exemplified  wonder- 
ful exertion  of  spontaneous  public  spirit  which  has 
contributed  to  the  most  effective  process  of  self -organ- 
ization of  the  nation.  On  many  occasions,  following 
the  removal  of  the  old  authorities,  a  new  elected  ad- 
ministration has  naturally  arisen,  conscious  of  na- 
tional interest  and  often  developing  in  its  spontaneity 
amazing  examples  of  practical  statesmanship. 

It  is  these  conditions,  which  provide  that  the  Pro- 
visional Government  is  gaining  every  day  in  impor- 
tance and  power;  is  gaining  capacity  to  check  ele- 
ments if  disorder,  derived  either  from  attempts  at  re- 
action or  extremism.  At  the  present  time  the  Pro- 
visional Government  has  started  to  take  most  decisive 
measures  in  that  respect,  employing  force  when  neces- 
sary, although  always  striving  for  peaceful  solution. 

The  last  resolutions,  which  have  been  framed  by 
the  Council  of  Workingmen,  the  Congress  of  Peasants, 
and  other  democratic  organizations,  render  the  best 
proof  of  the  general  understanding  of  the  necessity  of 
creating  strong  power.  The  coalitionary  character 
of  the  new  cabinet,  which  includes  eminent  Socialist 
leaders,  and  represents  all  the  vital  elements  of  the 
nation,  therefore  enjoying  its  full  support,  is  most  ef- 
fectively securing  the  unity  and  power  of  the  Cen- 
tral Government,  the  lack  of  which  was  so  keenly  felt 
during  the  first  two  months  after  the  revolution. 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND    105 

Realizing  the  grandeur  and  complexity  of  the  pres- 
ent events  and  conscious  of  the  danger  which  is  threat- 
ening the  very  achievements  of  the  revolution,  the 
Russian  people  are  gathering  around  the  new  Govern- 
ment, united  on  a  ''national  program."  It  is  this 
program  of  ''national  salvation"  which  has  united 
the  middle  classes,  as  well  as  the  Populists,  the  labor 
elements,  and  Socialists.  Deep  political  wisdom  has 
been  exhibited  by  subordinating  class  interests  and 
differences  to  national  welfare.  In  this  way  this  Gov- 
ernment is  supported  by  an  immense  majority  of  the 
nation,  and  outside  of  reactionaries  only,  is  being  op- 
posed by  comparatively  small  groups  of  extremists 
and  internationalists. 

As  to  foreign  policy,  Russia's  national  program  has 
been  clearly  set  forth  in  the  statement  of  the  Provi- 
sional Government  of  March  27,  and  more  explicitly 
in  the  declaration  of  the  new  Government  of  May  18. 

With  all  emphasis  may  I  state  that  Russia  rejects 
any  idea  of  separate  peace.  I  am  aware  that  rumors 
were  circulated  in  this  country  that  a  separate  peace 
seemed  probable.  I  am  happy  to  affirm  that  such 
rumors  are  wholly  without  foundation  in  fact.  What 
Russia  is  aiming  for  is  the  establishment  of  a  firm  and 
lasting  peace  between  democratic  nations.  The  tri- 
umph of  German  autocracy  would  render  such  peace 
impossible.  It  would  be  the  source  of  the  greatest 
misery  and  besides  that  a  threatening  menace  to  Rus- 
sia's freedom.  The  Provisional  Government  is  making 
all  endeavors  to  reorganize  and  fortify  the  army  for 
action  in  common  with  its  allies. 


106  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Gentlemen  of  the  House,  I  will  close  my  address 
by  saying  Russia  will  not  fail  to  be  a  worthy  partner 
in  the  *  *  league  of  honor. ' ' 

After  this  address,  members  of  the  mission  stood  in  a 
receiving  line  while  members  of  the  House  passed  by. 
Every  one  warmly  congratulated  Ambassador  Bakhmetieff 
on  his  address.  "You  see  how  we  feel  about  it,"  Secre- 
tary McAdoo  said,  as  he  warmly  pressed  Mr.  Bakhmetieff's 
hand.  "I  came  up  especially  to  hear  you.  It  was  a  very 
fine  address."  Such  expressions  as,  "You  touched  the 
point,"  "YouVe  hit  the  bull's-eye,"  "You're  a  dandy," 
"You're  a  cracker  jack,"  "You  gave  us  a  lot  of  reassurance 
we  wanted  to  hear,"  accompanied  handclasps  as  the  mem- 
bers filed  by. 

THE  BELGIANS  AND  RUSSIANS  IN  MOUNT  VERNON 

Again,  on  a  Sunday — June  24 — Mount  Vernon  was  vis- 
ited by  European  envoys.  Those  of  Belgium  and  Russia 
united  on  that  day  in  a  visit.  The  two  missions,  accom- 
panied by  members  of  the  Cabinet  and  other  high  Govern- 
ment officials,  were  taken  down  the  Potomac  in  the  May- 
flower. The  predominance  of  military  uniforms  and  white 
civilian  dress  made  an  impressive  sight  as  the  gathering 
formed  in  a  semi-circle  about  the  tomb,  over  which  flew 
the  Belgian,  Russian  and  American  flags.  Baron  Mon- 
cheur,  aided  by  Lieutenant  General  Leclercq,  and  Ambas- 
sador Bakhmetieff,  aided  by  Lieutenant  General  Roop, 
placed  floral  wreaths  in  the  tomb  beside  similar  wreaths 
that  had  been  laid  there  by  Mr.  Balfour,  M.  Viviani,  Mar- 
shal Joffre,  and  the  Prince  of  Udine.  Baron  Moncheur 
spoke  earnestly  and  slowly: 

In  this  solemn  hour,  when  freedom  is  locked  in 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND    107 

a  death  struggle  with  the  powers  of  darkness,  we 
come  to  pay  homage  to  the  great  founder  of  American 
liberty. 

Although  his  body  lies  here,  his  work  survives,  and 
his  spirit  still  lives  in  the  American  people.  I  know 
of  nothing  which  typifies  that  spirit  better  than  the 
words  of  Washington,  when,  in  bequeathing  his  sword 
to  his  nephew,  he  added  the  injunction  that  it  should 
never  be  drawn  except  in  defense  of  liberty  and  jus- 
tice, and  that,  when  once  drawn,  it  should  never  be 
sheathed  before  the  complete  victory  of  right  over 
wrong. 

It  is  that  spirit  which  animates  your  nation  in  the 
present  as  in  the  past.  You  looked  across  the  sea  and 
saw  liberty  struggling  in  the  grasp  of  autocracy,  that 
hideous  monster,  the  enemy  of  mankind.  You  came 
to  her  aid,  and  by  throwing  your  mighty  sword  into 
the  scales  you  have  insured  that  right  will  prevail, 
and  that  the  world  will  be  made  safe  for  all  honest 
nations — the  small  as  well  as  the  great. 

You  have  done  what  Washington  would  have  done. 
And  therefore,  in  paying  homage  to  the  father  of 
your  country,  I  offer  a  tribute  of  devotion  and  grati- 
tude to  the  whole  American  people. 

Secretary  Daniels  then  presented  Ambassador  Bakhme- 
tieff,  who  said : 

With  a  feeling  of  deepest  veneration  have  we  ap- 
proached this  sacred  tomb.  In  the  life  of  nations 
there  happen  to  be  times  when  the  trivial  every-day 
facts  of  existence,  with  all  their  common  interests  and 


108  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

petty  strife,  shallow  feeling  and  routine  activity  are 
replaced  by  epochs  of  blazing  and  impetuous  develop- 
ment, unrestrained  displays  of  creative  genius ;  epochs 
when  customs,  habits  and  national  interests  are  swept 
away  in  the  irresistible  flow  of  events;  epochs  when 
the  days  count  for  ages;  epochs  of  historical  cata- 
clysm, turning  points  of  history  for  mankind.  Such 
epochs  carry  the  greatest  calamities  and  the  greatest 
blessings.  Bloodshed,  slaughter,  all  the  horrors  of 
war  and  civil  strife,  all  the  miseries,  sorrows,  all  the 
suffering  of  expiatory  sacrifice,  are  characteristic  of 
them. 

But  great  is  the  burning  idealism  of  individuals 
and  nations,  luminous  the  display  of  human  nature 
in  its  primordial  beauty,  splendid  the  stately  progress 
of  victorious  humanity,  majestic  the  great  sonorous 
footsteps  of  history.  Such  epochs  breed  their  own 
men,  heroes  and  symbols  of  grand  feats.  George 
Washington  lived  at  such  an  epoch,  he  was  the  hero 
and  spokesman  of  his  time.  Fate  has  bestowed  on  us 
the  blessing  to  be  witnesses  and  partakers  of  such 
an  epoch  from  the  smoking  ruins  of  heroic  Bel- 
gium and  Poland,  ruins  soaked  by  blood  of  nameless 
martyrs. 

From  the  cries  of  sorrow  and  misery  of  innocent 
victims  there  is  rising  the  dawn  of  a  new  life,  life 
of  peaceful  prosperity,  justice  and  humanity,  growing 
out  of  the  conquered  and  smashed  remnants  of  mili- 
tant autocracy.  To  us  Russians  this  epoch  has  brought 
emancipation,  has  set  oppressed  nations  free,  has 
abolished  the  injustice  of  racial  prejudice.     Nearly 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND    109 

two  hundred  million  human  beings  have  got  the  bless- 
ing of  freedom  which  more  than  one  hundred  years 
ago  George  Washington  had  consecrated  in  this  coun- 
try. With  a  feeling  of  solemn  veneration  and  over- 
whelming emotion  I  bestow  on  this  immortal  tomb 
this  wreath  as  a  tribute  to  the  hero,  to  the  knight  of 
liberty  and  democracy,  from  the  messengers  of  Rus- 
sia's freedom. 

MR.   BAKHMETIEFF  IN   THE   SENATE 

On  June  26  the  Russian  Mission  was  received  in  the  Sen- 
ate. Mr.  Bakhmetieff's  address  was  greeted  with  a  dem- 
onstration equaling  that  made  for  him  in  the  House.  He 
spoke,  in  part,  as  follows: 

At  this  moment  all  eyes  are  turned  on  Russia. 
Many  hopes  and  doubts  are  raised  by  the  tide  of 
events  in  the  greatest  of  revolutions  at  an  epoch  in  the 
world 's  greatest  war.  The  fate  of  nations,  the  fate  of 
the  world,  is  at  stake.  The  revolution  called  for  the 
reconstruction  of  the  very  foundation  of  our  national 
life.  The  creation  anew  of  a  country  of  boundless 
expanse  on  distinctly  new  principles  will,  of  course, 
take  time,  and  impatience  should  not  be  shown  in  the 
consummation  of  so  grand  an  event  as  Russia's  entry 
into  the  ranks  of  free  nations. 

We  should  not  forget  that  in  this  immense  transfor- 
mation various  interests  will  seek  to  assert  them- 
selves, and,  until  the  work  of  settlement  is  completed, 
a  struggle  among  opposing  currents  is  inevitable,  and 
exaggerations  cannot  be  avoided.  Attempts  on  the 
part  of  disorganizing  elements  to  take  advantage  of 


110  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

this  moment  of  transition  must  be  expected  and  met 
with  calmness  and  confidence. 

Two  considerations  make  me  feel  that  Russia  has 
passed  the  stage  of  the  world  when  the  future  ap- 
peared vague  and  uncertain.  In  the  first  place  is  the 
firm  conviction  of  the  necessity  of  legality  which  is 
widely  developing  and  firmly  establishing  itself 
through  the  country.  This  principle  is  based  on  the 
doctrine  that  governments  derive  their  just  power 
from  the  consent  of  the  governed,  and  hence  a  strong 
government  must  be  created  by  the  will  of  the  people. 
My  latest  advices  give  joyful  confirmation  of  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  firm  power,  strong  in  its  democratic 
precepts  and  activity,  strong  in  the  trust  reposed  in  it 
by  the  people  in  its  ability  to  enforce  law  and  order. 

In  the  second  place  and  no  less  important  is  the 
growing  conviction  that  the  issues  of  the  revolution 
and  the  future  of  Russia's  freedom  are  closely  con- 
nected with  the  fighting  might  of  the  country.  It 
is  such  power,  it  is  the  force  of  arms  which  alone  can 
define  and  make  certain  the  achievements  of  the 
revolution  against  autocratic  aggression.  There  has 
been  a  period  closely  following  the  revolution  of  al- 
most total  suspension  of  all  military  activity,  a  period 
of  what  appeared  to  be  disintegration  of  the  army,  a 
period  which  gave  rise  to  serious  doubts  and  to  gloomy 
forebodings.  At  the  same  time  there  ensued  unlimited 
freedom  of  speech  and  of  the  press,  which  afforded  op- 
portunities for  expression  of  the  most  extreme  and 
anti-national  views,  from  all  of  which  resulted  wide- 
spread  rumors  throughout  the   world   that   Russia 


WASHINGTON,  MT.  VERNON  AND  RICHMOND    111 

would  abandon  the  war  and  conclude  a  separate  peace 
with  the  Central  Powers. 

With  all  emphasis  and  with  the  deepest  convic- 
tion, may  I  reiterate  the  statement  that  such  rumors 
were  wholly  without  foundation  in  fact.  Russia  re- 
jects with  indignation  any  idea  of  separate  peace. 
What  my  country  is  striving  for  is  the  establishment 
of  a  firm  and  lasting  peace  between  democratic  na- 
tions. Russia  is  firmly  convinced  that  a  separate 
peace  would  mean  the  triumph  of  German  autocracy, 
would  render  lasting  peace  impossible,  create  the 
greatest  danger  for  democracy  and  liberty,  and  ever 
be  a  threatening  menace  to  the  new-born  freedom  of 
Russia. 

Conscious  of  its  enormous  task,  the  Provisional 
Government  is  taking  measures  to  promptly  restore 
throughout  the  country  conditions  of  life  so  deeply 
disorganized  by  the  inefficiency  of  the  previous  rulers, 
and  to  provide  for  whatever  is  necessary  for  military 
success. 

Russia  wants  the  world  to  be  safe  for  democracy. 
To  make  it  safe  means  to  have  democracy  rule  the 
world. 

RUMANUN   COMMISSIONERS   IN  WASHINGTON 

A  mission  from  Rmnania  reached  Washington  on  June 
29  and  sought  quarters  at  a  hotel.  Dr.  Vasile  Lucaci,  the 
head  of  the  party,  was  accompanied  by  Johan  Mota  and 
Lieut.  V.  Stocia.  They  called  at  the  State  Department 
next  day,  and,  in  the  absence  of  a  Rumanian  diplomatic 
representative  in  Washington,  introduced  themselves.  It  was 


112  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

the  main  purpose  of  this  mission  to  stimulate  recruiting 
for  the  Rumanian  army  among  their  countrymen  in  Amer- 
ica. It  was  the  second  mission  that  had  come  to  this 
country  from  a  small  nation,  the  Belgian  being  the  first. 
When  the  United  States  entered  the  war.  Premier  Bratiano, 
of  Rumania,  had  sent  by  cable  a  welcome  to  us,  in  which 
he  said : 

Rumania  is  happy  and  proud  to  be  by  the  side  of 
the  United  States  in  the  fight  against  those  who  imag- 
ined they  could  violate  and  warp,  as  their  strength 
and  selfish  interests  might  dictate,  the  normal  and 
democratic  development  of  the  great  human  family. 

Rumania  entered  the  war  in  the  autumn  of  1916,  to 
liberate  Rumanians  who  had  long  been  kept  in  Austrian 
bondage,  and  reunite  them  with  their  own  people.  Her 
army,  as  reorganized,  was  now  believed  to  be  ready  to  take 
the  field  again.  Though  defeated  badly — the  country  being 
more  than  half  overrun — she  had  not  been  put  out  of 
action.  Her  army  remained  practically  intact,  owing  to 
its  successful  retreat.  In  this  war,  as  in  some  other  wars, 
it  was  not  the  taking  of  territory,  but  the  destruction  or 
capture  of  armies  that  counted.  To  Rumania's  defeat  two 
things  had  contributed — Rumania's  own  inadequate  con- 
ception of  the  size  of  her  task  when  Germans,  Austrians, 
Turks  and  Bulgarians  were  all  her  enemies,  and  the  failure 
of  the  Russian  Government  now  under  German  influence 
to  give  her  the  support  she  expected.  Both  factors  had 
disappeared  from  the  situation  by  the  summer  of  1917. 
Rumania  had  no  reason  longer  to  fear  high-placed  Rus- 
sian treachery,  and  she  now  had  no  illusions  about  the 
size  of  her  task.  She  was  counted  on  for  good  work  when- 
ever General  Brusiloff  should  be  able  to  give  the  signal. 


Ill 

IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH 

M.  VIVIANI  AND  MARSHAL  JOFFRE  IN  CHICAGO 

The  French  mission,  including  M.  Viviani,  Marshal 
Jojffre,  and  Admiral  Chocheprat,  left  Washington  by  spe- 
cial train  on  May  3  for  a  tour  of  Middle  Western  States, 
extending  over  3,200  miles.  A  great  crowd  gathered  at 
the  Union  Station  to  see  them  off.  On  three  tall  flagstaffs 
were  seen  the  flags  of  the  United  States,  France,  and  Great 
Britain.  Ofiicials  representing  the  State,  Navy,  and  War 
Departments,  Ambassador  Jusserand,  and  other  diplo- 
mats, followed  the  Frenchmen  to  their  train.  At  3:30 
o'clock  the  train  started,  with  the  crowd  cheering  and  the 
Frenchmen  on  the  observation  platform  waving  their  hats 
until  their  car  disappeared  in  the  distance.  M.  Viviani 
had  that  day  issued  the  following  statement  to  Washington 
newspaper  correspondents : 

Gentlemen :  Allow  me  to  express  my  sincere  regret 
if  circumstances  prevent  my  bidding  you  good-by  in 
person  this  morning.  But  to-day  every  moment  is 
taken  up,  and  unfortunately  I  cannot  shake  hands 
with  you  individually.  But  I  desire  not  to  leave 
Washington  without  thanking  you  for  the  help  you 
have  so  kindly  extended  to  us,  and  the  cordial  and 
sympathetic  way  in  which  you  have  always  spoken 
of  our  mission.    Thanks  to  you,  we  have  been  enabled 

113 


114  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

to  convey  to  every  one  our  feelings  of  warm  gratitude 
for  the  magnificent  welcome  we  have  received  in 
Washington. 

The  mission  will  always  retain  a  grateful  recollec- 
tion of  the  most  charming  hospitality  which  has  been 
extended  to  it,  and  of  all  the  delicate  attentions  by 
which  it  has  been  surrounded  in  this  beautiful  city 
Major  L 'Enfant  so  admirably  designed.  Our  regrets 
are  diminished  by  the  thought  that  after  the  most 
interesting  trip  we  are  about  to  take  we  shall  return 
to  this  city,  where  we  can  find  no  better  conclusions 
to  the  journey  we  have  so  pleasantly  begun.  Con- 
sequently I  bid  you  au  revoir,  not  adieu. 

In  Chicago  the  half-day  that  followed  the  arrival  was 
crowded  with  patriotic  outbursts,  beginning  with  a  motor 
ride  from  the  station  through  deep-canyoned  city  streets 
overhung  with  the  tri-color  of  France,  the  Stars  and 
Stripes,  and  the  British  flag.  Women,  equally  with  men, 
formed  the  vast  crowds.  Children  not  infrequently  saluted 
the  hero  of  the  Mame  with  a  shrill,  "Vive  la  France,"  which 
brought  always  a  smile  and  a  salute  from  the  great  soldier. 
At  a  meeting  in  the  Auditorium  pandemonium  for  a  time 
reigned.  It  was  with  great  difficulty  that  the  crowd  could 
be  subdued.    M.  Viviani  said: 

I  was  deeply  touched  with  the  applause  which  rang 
through  the  hall  as  the  national  air  of  France  was 
played,  and  also  that  of  America.  I  have  also  been 
very  deeply  impressed  with  the  talks  given  by  Mr. 
Bancroft,  the  Mayor  of  Chicago  and  the  Governor  of 
your  State  of  Illinois. 


IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH  115 

In  1871  Fate  was  against  us,  and  we  suffered  heavy- 
losses.  They  took  from  us  our  Alsace  and  Lorraine. 
But  we  will  have  it — to-morrow!  Our  country  has 
been  very  patient,  in  spite  of  many  provocations,  of 
which  I  might  mention  Tangier,  Casa  Blanca  and 
others,  but  it  was  not  until  1914  that  it  became  im- 
perative for  us  to  defend  our  rights. 

Germany,  who  had  been  preparing  herself  for  this 
war  for  a  period  of  forty-five  years,  then  came  for- 
ward, expecting  to  conquer  in  a  few  hours,  a  few 
days,  or  a  few  months.  But  all  of  our  children 
answered  the  call  as  they  would  that  of  their  own 
mother.  While  the  enemy  were  temporarily  successful 
as  Fate  was  again  against  us,  we  withdrew  until  our 
general  had  completed  his  plans  of  defense ;  he  then 
gave  us  the  order,  **En  avant!"  Then  our  soldiers, 
with  blood  in  their  eyes  and  determination  in  their 
hearts,  responded  bravely.  Within  a  few  days  fifty 
kilometers  of  France  had  been  retaken. 

It  is  with  the  greatest  of  pleasure  that  I  can  recall 
that  part  your  country  played  right  from  the  opening 
of  the  war.  As  I  recall  seeing  the  first  fifty-four 
American  ambulances  entered  in  the  service  I  also 
remember  the  beautiful  sight  of  your  American  women 
leaning  over  the  beds  of  both  our  wounded  and  dying 
soldiers,  and  also  recall  the  beautiful  work  done  right 
from  the  start  by  your  American  doctors. 

While  you  were  a  considerable  distance  from  the 
seat  of  war,  and  while  owing  to  the  censor  the  true 
history  of  the  battle  of  the  Mame  never  reached  you, 
it  is  impossible  that  you  did  not  have  some  idea  of  the 


116  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

battles  of  the  Marne,  Yser,  Somme  and  Verdun.  You 
should  have  seen  the  French  army  as  it  really  was. 

We  could  see  our  own  sons  bleeding  and  dying  by 
the  roadside,  and  notwithstanding  this  sight  our  army 
kept  up  its  courage.  Inspired  by  the  feelings  of  de- 
mocracy, the  grand  armies  of  France  proceeded  on 
their  victorious  way  in  keeping  with  the  spirit  of 
patriotism  and  democracy  which  has  animated  the 
hearts  of  their  brethren  in  responding  from  this  side 
of  the  Atlantic.  It  is  this  spirit  which  will  lead  us 
to  the  abolition  of  autocracy. 

That  is  the  reason  the  people  of  this  country 
responded  so  freely  to  the  call  of  your  President  Wil- 
son for  the  freedom  of  the  world. 

In  closing  I  am  glad  to  extend  the  thanks  of  the 
commission  to  you,  who  have  received  us  as  brothers. 

And  may  heaven's  blessings  fall  upon  each  and 
all  of  you. 

When  M.  Viviani  referred  to  the  first  onrush  of  the 
German  army  almost  to  the  doors  of  Paris,  and  the  order 
of  General  Joffre  to  the  army  to  take  the  historic  offensive 
that  drove  them  hack  thirty  miles  from  the  Marne,  the  hero 
of  that  battle  brushed  tears  away  with  his  clenched  fist  and 
rose  impulsively  to  embrace  the  orator.  Marshal  Joffre, 
urged  by  repeated  and  vociferous  demands,  then  made  his 
first,  though  a  very  brief,  speech  in  America,  and  brought 
cheering  throngs  to  their  feet  amid  waving  flags. 

In  the  evening  a  dinner  was  given  to  the  visitors  in  the 
gold  room  of  the  Congress  Hotel,  the  decorations  French 
and  American  colors.  Near  the  end  of  the  dinner  the  main 
lights  were  flashed  off  and  a  French  flag  thrown  up  in  red, 


IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH  117 

white  and  blue  on  the  west  wall,  as  all  faced  it  and  saluted, 
while  the  orchestra  played  the  "Marseillaise."  A  set  of 
incandescent  lights  representing  the  Stars  and  Stripes  was 
then  switched  on,  and  all  turned  and  saluted  America's  col- 
ors as  the  "Star-Spangled  Banner"  was  sung.  Marshal 
Joffre  stood  at  salute  during  these  ceremonies,  his  massive 
figure  soldierly  and  towering  over  the  civilian  proportions  of 
Minister  Viviani.    In  response  to  a  toast,  M.  Viviani  said : 

Mr.  McCormick  has  just  recalled  in  the  most  flat- 
tering words,  words  which  have  gone  straight  to  our 
hearts,  the  glorious  memories  of  our  common  history. 

I  wonder  as  I  speak  what  Lafayette  would  think 
of  the  development  of  his  adventure.  He  well  knew 
that  he  brought  the  help  of  French  arms  to  the  cause 
of  American  independence.  His  pride  was  to  be  the 
companion  in  arms  of  your  great  Washington;  he 
might  well  suppose  that  the  independence  thus 
planted  on  your  soil  would  flourish  long  and  that  his 
name  would  be  revered  by  all  American  hearts  and 
consciences. 

But  could  he  foresee  that  140  years  later  republican 
France,  after  being  a  monarchy,  after  winning  its 
own  independence,  after  helping  other  nations  to  win 
theirs,  finally  would  be  drawn  against  its  will  into 
the  greatest  conflict  known  to  history,  and  that  other 
Frenchmen  coming  to  your  land  would  find  not  only 
the  proud  memory  of  his  name,  but  the  expressions 
of  a  gratitude  which  a  few  moments  ago  you  uttered  ? 

Let  me  say  that  already  through  Lafayette  you  have 
paid  in  part  your  debt  of  gratitude. 

It  is  because  Lafayette  came  to  this  land  in  his 


118  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

youth,  it  is  because  lie  lived  side  by  side  with  your 
great  Washington,  it  is  because  he  saw  the  rise  of  your 
puissant  American  independence,  that  he  was  able  to 
bring  back  to  France  the  lessons  and  virtues  taught 
him  here  and  that,  in  his  maturity  and  green  old  age, 
he  brought  to  our  land  the  benefit  of  liberal  ideas, 
of  the  lofty  conscience  and  wide  outlook  he  owed  to 
your  land.  Thanks  to  you  he  was  in  France  from 
1815  until  his  death  one  of  the  most  stalwart  pioneers 
of  republican  and  democratic  ideas;  and  it  is  to  him 
we  owe  in  part  the  republican  conquests  we  have 
made. 

Thus  when  we  recall  all  these  glorious  memories 
that  seem  to  mingle  the  folds  of  our  two  flags,  we 
can  show  what  two  great  democracies  can  do. 

Absolute  monarchs  imagine  they  can  conquer  other 
peoples  by  the  marriages  they  make  and  by  placing 
on  all  the  thrones  of  Europe  their  relatives  and  rep- 
resentatives. But  we  drew  closer  the  links  that  bind 
our  hearts  together  by  daily  contacts,  by  daily  ex- 
changes of  our  feelings  and  our  thoughts,  by  the  daily 
mingling  of  our  consciences,  by  the  daily  contem- 
plation of  our  great  common  liberty.  And  thus  our 
brotherly  friendship  did  not  need  to  be  written  in 
treaties  for  it  was  a  living  force  in  our  hearts  and 
consciences. 

So,  in  the  tragic  days  that  came  upon  France,  in 
those  decisive  hours  not  only  in  its  history  but  in 
the  history  of  the  world,  it  was  a  comfort  and  help 
to  feel,  from  the  beginning,  that  the  great  American 
soul  beat  in  harmony  with  ours. 


IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH  119 

If  we  had  had  our  doubts  as  to  the  justice  of  our 
cause  we  should  not  have  doubted  any  longer  when, 
gazing  across  the  vast  expanse  of  sea,  we  saw  all  think- 
ing Americans  turning  to  our  side  and,  so  far  as  they 
could,  by  their  sympathy,  by  the  benefits  they  show- 
ered on  the  heads  of  our  dying,  our  orphans,  proving 
to  us  the  ardor  of  a  sympathy  which  in  those  tragic 
hours  raised  and  lifted  us  above  our  very  selves. 

And  if  from  the  first  you  gave  us  the  inestimable 
benefit  of  your  moral  support  it  is  because  you  are  a 
great  democracy;  it  is  because  we  are  a  great 
democracy,  because  in  Europe  or  in  France  there  are 
freemen  who  were  thus  agreed  in  soul  to  raise  yet 
higher  the  flag  of  democracy  before  the  rampart  of  an 
autocracy  which  is  tottering  to  its  fall. 

Already  with  fire  and  sword,  by  the  valor  of  our 
children,  the  strength  of  our  arms,  we  have  passed 
beyond  the  wall  and  above  it  sent  the  radiance  of 
all  the  ideas  of  liberty. 

Come  to  us,  American  brothers!  Come  and  fight 
side  by  side  with  your  French  brothers,  with  your 
allied  brothers!  Come  under  your  glorious  banner 
to  fight  for  the  democracy  of  the  world  and  show  all 
men  that,  when  the  rights  of  a  single  nation  are 
violated,  the  rights  of  all  nations  are  trampled  under 
foot. 

In  the  message  of  Mr,  Wilson,  incomparable  in  its 
grandeur  and  nobility,  which  went  to  the  heart  of 
hearts  of  France,  and  which  the  government  of  the 
republic  has  placarded  in  every  village  in  France  and 
had  read  and  interpreted  to  all  children  in  the  schools. 


120  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

your  illustrious  President  made  manifest  the  ideas  of 
America.  He  expressed  them  too  magnificently  for 
me  to  attempt  to  express  them  in  turn. 

But  when  I  speak  of  democratic  ideas,  when  I  speak 
of  violated  rights  to  be  avenged,  of  the  sufferings  en- 
dured by  those  who  have  fought  for  liberty  and  can 
only  be  repaid  by  victory,  I  cannot  do  better  to  sym- 
bolize my  thoughts,  to  give  them  concrete  form,  than 
raise  my  glass  in  honor  of  the  illustrious  President  of 
the  United  States. 

It  was  explained  to  the  audience  that  the  Marshal  was  a 
soldier  and  not  an  orator,  but  flag-waving  auditors  yelled 
for  him  until  he  finally  yielded.  In  full  uniform,  he  stepped 
to  the  front  of  the  rostrum,  holding  a  French  flag  in  one 
hand  and  an  American  flag  in  the  other  and  spoke  in 
French,  waving  first  one  flag  and  then  the  other,  and 
finally  entwining  the  two.  His  words  were  few,  but  the 
auditors,  few  of  whom  understood  French,  cheered  so 
wildly  that  even  the  stenographers  could  not  record  all  he 
said,  brief  as  was  his  speech.    He  said,  in  part: 

My  friends,  I  am  proud  to  have  in  my  hand  the 
American  flag,  which  is  to  the  American  people  what 
the  French  flag  is  to  the  people  of  France,  a  symbol 
of  liberty.  I  hold  in  my  other  hand  the  flag  of  France, 
who  has  given  of  her  best,  her  staunchest,  and  her 
bravest,  and  which  also  stands  for  liberty.  I  had 
the  honor  to  carry  the  French  flag  on  the  field  of 
battle,  and  I  am  glad  to  join  the  flag  of  many  battles 
to  the  flag  that  has  never  known  defeat.  With  this 
flag  I  bring  to  you  the  salute  of  the  French  Army 


IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH  121 

to  the  American  people,  our  staunch  ally  in  the  eom- 
mon  cause. 

As  he  joined  the  two  flags  when  speaking  his  closing 
words,  the  whole  assembly  mounted  to  their  seats  and 
cheered  passionately. 

Next  day  there  was  a  reception  at  the  Art  Institute  and 
later  a  military  parade,  when  the  line  of  march  was  so 
jammed  with  spectators  that  entrance  and  exit  to  big 
office  buildings  and  hotels  along  the  route  were  shut  off 
and  all  traffic  blocked.  Luncheon  was  served  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Chicago.  At  four  o'clock  the  big  public  event 
of  the  visit  began  in  the  Amphitheater  at  the  stockyards, 
where  many  workmen  had  received  a  half-holiday.  The 
Marshal's  conquest  of  the  city  had  its  climax  in  the  demon- 
stration there  made.  The  building  fairly  rocked  with  the 
enthusiasm  of  17,000  persons,  a  great  host  singing,  and  hold- 
ing banners.  It  was  like  a  page  from  Revelation,  said  one 
commentator.  Remarkable  as  earlier  ovations  had  been,  they 
were  eclipsed  by  this  outpouring  of  sentiment.  Cosmopoli- 
tan in  the  last  degree  was  the  audience.  At  least  forty,  per- 
haps sixty,  racial  and  national  elements  were  represented. 
It  was  a  "melting-pot-of-the-nations"  assemblage.  It  set 
up  a  polyglot  shout:  "Vive  Joffre,"  in  forty  tongues  and 
dialects.  In  the  same  way  it  thundered  out  the  national 
songs,  "The  Star-Spangled  Banner,"  "The  Marseillaise," 
"America."  But  the  song  that  really  lifted  the  roof  was 
"The  Battle  Hymn  of  the  Republic." 

On  the  rostrum  a  figure  in  bright  red  trousers  and  blue 
blouse  stood  at  salute.  In  him  the  crowd  knew  that  it  saw 
one  of  the  greatest  fighters  for  democracy  the  world  has 
known  since  the  fires  of  freedom  were  kindled.  Their  cries 
of  "Joffre!"  became  surging  roars.  It  was  a  succession 
of  thrills,  ecstatic  rather  than  emotional.     The  tone  was 


122  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

one  of  solemn  exaltation.  Joffre  stood  at  salute.  He  was 
poise  and  repose  personified.  He  was  like  a  statue.  Be- 
neath bushy  gray  eyebrows  his  light  blue  eyes  sparkled 
though  half  closed.    Occasionally  he  tugged  at  his  mustache. 

These  were  the  only  outward  signs  of  feeling.  Now  and 
then  he  leaned  toward  M.  Viviani  and  they  nodded  and 
smiled.  It  was  4:30  when  the  two  men  came  in  and  so 
gave  the  signal  for  the  audience  to  go  wild.  Small  flag's — 
the  American  and  French  emblems — ^were  produced,  until 
the  hall  became  a  raging  sea  of  red,  white  and  blue.  It 
was  one  roar,  a  Niagara  of  sound — "Joffre!" 

The  May  sunlight  streamed  upon  the  Marshal  between  two 
American  flags  as  he  stood  on  the  speakers^  platform. 
Flanking  them  were  the  tricolor,  the  Union  Jack  and  the 
standards  of  Russia,  Belgium,  Italy  and  France.  Over  on 
the  east  wall  were  banners  bearing  the  Gallic  cock,  his 
golden  crest  uplifted  in  triumph.  Off  to  the  left,  luminous 
in  the  sunshine,  was  a  silken  banner,  with  the  blue,  white 
and  red  of  France,  emblazoned  with  the  word  "Marne." 
Joffre  glanced  at  it,  stroked  his  mustache  and  smilingly 
nudged  Viviani.  The  roar  was  redoubled  at  this  point.*  M. 
Viviani  evoked  a  thunderstorm  when  introduced.    He  said: 

I  am  happy  to-day  to  salute  the  City  of  Chicago  in 
this  assembly,  where  all  classes  of  society  are  repre- 
sented. This  assembly  reminds  me  of  France  at  the 
moment  of  the  declaration  of  war  in  the  beginning 
of  August,  1914.  The  Germans  had  assailed  us  in  a 
brutal  attack,  hoping,  within  a  short  time,  to  destroy 
France  by  many  barbarous  blows.  All  the  French 
people  ran  to  the  border.  The  farmers,  the  workmen, 
all  Frenchmen  were  at  the  border.     The  fight  was 

iThe  Chicago  Herald. 


IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH  123 

hard,  but  at  last  we  were  successful  and  stopped  them 
at  the  battle  of  the  Marne. 

We  were  in  need  of  munitions.  We  were  in  need 
of  guns  and  rifles.  We  have  taken  from  among  the 
ranks  of  the  army  workmen  to  make  guns,  bullets  and 
bombs,  and  from  that  time  the  French  army  comprised 
those  who  fight  at  the  front  and  those  who  make  it 
possible  to  fight  at  the  front.  That  is  the  army  at 
the  front  and  the  army  in  the  shops  and  in  the  fac- 
tories. And  it  is  from  the  army  at  the  front  and  the 
army  of  the  shops  that  I  bring  to  you  greeting. 

I  want,  in  the  name  of  France,  to  take  advantage 
of  the  opportunity  to  answer  one  of  the  greatest 
calumnies  against  us,  that  we  were  fighting  to  make 
money.  Do  you  think  if  that  were  true  all  your 
brothers  would  have  rushed  to  the  front  to  fight  for 
our  flag?  Do  you  think  the  French  laboring  men 
and  all  the  working  classes  would  have  taken  the  in- 
terest they  did  take  in  the  war?  All  the  citizens 
who  are  ready  to  fight  for  justice  go  to  the  battlefields 
of  liberty.  That  is  where  was  conceived  the  greatness 
of  Washington.  As  one  of  the  speakers  a  few  mo- 
ments ago  said:  *'No  man  has  the  right  to  die  for 
himself;  no  man  has  the  right  to  live  for  himself." 
He  owes  his  life  to  liberty  and  to  democracy.  Vive 
I'Amerique,  vive  la  France! 

When  Marshal  Joffre  rose  in  acknowledgment  he  received 
an  ovation  which  lasted  seven  minutes,  during  which  he  stood 
stiffly  at  salute,  with  moisture  in  his  eyes.  When  he  com- 
pleted his  brief  remarks  and  while  the  crowd  again  were 


124  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

cheering  madly,  his  colleagues  of  the  commission  embraced 
and  congratulated  him. 

IN   KANSAS   CITY 

From  Chicago  the  French  mission  went  to  Kansas  City 
by  night  train.  Before  daybreak  next  morning  the  tramp 
of  many  feet  could  have  been  heard  on  the  Union  Station 
plaza.  The  coming  of  the  dawn  disclosed  there  an  un- 
broken line  of  khaki-clad  men,  standing  with  arms  at 
attention,  in  a  huge  circle  guarding  the  main  entrance. 
The  roll  of  a  drum  soon  announced  the  arrival  of  the  vis- 
itors, with  M.  Viviani  walking  with  Mayor  Edwards,  Mar- 
shal Joffre  with  Governor  Gardner  and  Vice-Admiral 
Chocheprat  with  Governor  Capper.  The  cry  from  the 
crowd  of  "Vive  la  France"  brought  from  the  visitors  the 
response,  "Vive  VAmerique/'  first  from  M.  Viviani  and 
then  from  Marshal  Joffre  and  the  other  visitors.  Imme- 
diately after  eating  a  specially  prepared  breakfast  at  the 
station,  the  visitors  and  members  of  the  reception  com- 
mittee proceeded  in  twenty  motor  cars  on  a  trip  over  the 
boulevards,  on  either  running-board  of  the  cars  a  secret 
service  guard. 

Long  before  the  opening  of  the  exercises  which  pre- 
ceded a  reception  in  Convention  Hall,  every  seat  in  the 
Auditorium  had  been  occupied.  When  the  appointed  hour 
arrived  there  were  seen  in  the  doorway  back  of  the  speak- 
ers' stand  a  group  of  men,  including  a  heavy-set  man  in 
a  modest  blue  military  coat,  the  cap  of  an  oflScer  of  the 
French  army,  and  red  military  trousers.  Marshal  Joffre. 
At  once  the  audience  forgot  to  sing,  and  a  cheer  arose 
that  drowned  completely  the  music  of  the  band.  Flags 
were  waved  frantically.  Lights  in  the  north  end  of  the 
hall  flashed  the  French  tricolor  on  one  side,  the  Stars  and 


IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH  125 

Stripes  on  the  other,  and  a  huge  French  flag  was  unfurled 
from  the  ceiling  above  the  guests.  When  the  guests 
reached  their  places,  the  cheering  crowd  began  the  "Mar- 
seillaise/' After  Marshal  Joffre  and  the  others  sat  down 
cries  of  ^'Vive  le  marechal  de  France,"  "Five  Joffre!"  came 
from  scattered  parts  of  the  hall,  and  immediately  the  great 
audience  arose,  shouting  and  waving  flags.  A  card  made 
of  gold  and  bearing  an  inscription  stating  that  it  was  a 
gift  in  commemoration  of  the  visit,  was  presented  by  Mayor 
Edwards  to  M.  Viviani,  who  threw  his  arms  over  the 
shoulder  of  the  mayor,  kissed  him  on  both  cheeks,  and  then 
addressed  the  assembled  multitude.*  Although  speaking  in 
French,  the  spirit  of  M.  Viviani's  address  was  caught  even 
by  those  who  could  not  understand  the  language : 

Here  grow  the  millions  of  bushels  of  wheat  that 
make  you,  I  will  not  say  the  granary  of  the  United 
States,  but  one  of  the  granaries  of  the  world.  And 
I  thank  you  for  the  assurance  that  you  are  ready  to 
work  for  the  Allies  and  for  France,  for  as  your  mayor 
said  in  admirable  words:  **War  is  not  a  matter  of 
munitions  and  cannon  alone,  but  also  of  provisions 
for  those  who  fight  in  the  line  or  labor  behind  it." 
And  in  what  terms  can  I  express  our  joy  at  seeing 
a  town  at  once  so  beautiful  under  the  spring  sunshine 
and  your  people  welcoming  France  in  our  persons. 

Next  August  three  years  will  have  elapsed  since  we 
stayed  the  German  avalanche  that  was  sweeping  over 
French  territory.  And  why  have  we  fought  thus? 
Was  it  to  conquer  territories?  No.  For  other  ends. 
You  understand  that;  you  understand  it  so  well  that 

*The  Kansas  City  Star. 


126  BALFOUR,  VIVIAIsTl  AND  JOFFRE 

all  your  orators  are  agreed  in  giving  to  this  holy  war 
its  full  meaning  and  gravest  import.  It  is  not  a 
fight  between  armies,  but  between  peoples,  a  fight 
for  democracy  against  autocracy. 

The  sacred  union  of  the  United  States  and  the 
Entente  Allies  will  not  be  dissolved  until  German 
imperialism  has  been  destroyed,  and  the  peace  of  the 
world  assured.  The  United  States  has  not  entered  the 
war  alone  to  help  France,  but  rather  to  uphold  the 
torch  of  civilization,  and  to  obtain  for  the  world 
ultimate  peace.  You  free  Americans  so  well  under- 
stand why  thousands  and  thousands  of  our  children 
now  are  sleeping  their  last.  You  know  it  is  not 
because  there  is  in  our  hearts  the  desire  to  conquer. 

You  will  come,  not  to  help  France,  but  to  aid  the 
cause  of  civilization.  France,  bleeding  and  fighting, 
with  many  destroyed  homes  and  tombs,  has  held  the 
German  flood  that  now  is  going  back.  Come  to  France, 
you  Americans,  and  help  civilization  and  liberty.  It 
is  the  best  way,  the  only  way,  to  insure  the  peace  of 
the  world. 

In  what  terms  can  I  express  our  joy  at  seeing  a 
town  at  once  so  beautiful  under  the  spring  sunshine 
and  your  people  welcoming  in  our  persons  France  and 
the  republic?  But  beneath  that  war  sun,  among  all 
the  radiance  of  spring,  we  Frenchmen  would  have 
felt  a  sort  of  shame  in  our  joy,  the  shame  of  being 
thus  happy  while  our  land  was  in  mourning  and  our 
children  were  shedding  their  blood,  had  we  not  felt  on 
what  mission  we  came  here,  and  that  the  vast  crowds 
were  thrilled  with  the  thought  that  they,  too,  were 


IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH  127 

ready  to  fight  for  liberty.  I  should  be  unjust  to 
the  splendor  of  your  faith  if  I  supposed  for  one 
moment  that  any  individual  feeling  animated  you 
against  the  German  hordes.  It  is  for  higher  reasons ; 
you  enter  this  war  because  you  are  resolved  this  war 
shall  be  the  last.  You  said  you  were  ready  to  give 
your  last  man  to  attain  that  end.    It  is  an  oath. 

France  is  so  identified  with  the  liberty  of  people 
and  with  civilization  that  when  one  looks  for  liberty 
one  sees  France.  It  is  she  who  has  upheld  the  banner 
of  liberty.  She  it  was  who  in  the  days  of  the  French 
Revolution  lit  a  flame  in  all  hearts  and  souls.  From 
her  lips  fell  the  thoughts  of  freedom  that  have 
traversed  the  whole  world,  to  the  icy  steppes  of  Russia, 
where  the  fire  of  revolution  is  kindled  even  now,  and 
where  we  shall  shortly  see  the  new  government  in  full 
control  of  itself  and  all  Russia  leading  its  soldiers  to 
battle  and  its  citizens  to  final  deliverance. 

And  it  is  France  which,  for  three  long  years,  has 
fought,  wept  and  bled.  She  has  been  trampled  under- 
foot by  her  invaders,  but  step  by  step  they  retreat, 
thanks  to  the  courage  of  our  soldiers  and  thanks  also 
to  our  brave  English  allies.  Three  years  has  France 
been  subjected  to  this  life.  Come  to  her  now  and 
you  will  come  to  the  cause  of  liberty,  of  civilization. 
There  is  no  better  way  of  making  democracy  reign 
in  the  world — democracy,  which  alone  can  end  all 
wars. 

In  our  hearts  more  precious  and  pure  than  gold  is 
inscribed  the  memory  of  what  we  owe  to  the  United 
States,  to  free  America,  our  sister  republic,  which 


128  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

at  the  call  of  its  illustrious  President,  Mr.  Wilson,  has 
risen  to  a  man.  We  await  you.  We  know  we  can 
rely  on  your  fidelity  and  courage.  We  rest  assured 
that  you  will  never  desert  your  great  duty.  Long 
live  the  United  States ;  long  live  France. 

I  will  take  back  to  France  all  of  your  greetings, 
your  flowers,  your  kisses  and  your  smiles — back  to  the 
soldiers  of  France. 

M.  Viviani's  address  was  greeted  with  an  outburst  of 
applause  that  subsided  only  when  Marshal  Joffre  rose  to 
speak  a  few  words  in  acknowledgment  of  a  thunderous 
ovation.  Both  expressed  especial  pleasure  at  such  a  dem- 
onstration in  Kansas  City,  because  it  would  be  from  the 
country  surrounding  that  much  of  the  wheat,  com,  and 
other  foodstuffs  must  come  to  insure  final  victory.  The 
meeting  in  Convention  Hall  had  been  planned  as  a  memo- 
rial of  the  Lusitania,  sunk  on  that  day.  May  7,  two  years 
before.  All  creeds  were  represented.  There  was  a  dra- 
matic climax  when  Rabbi  Bernstein,  of  St.  Joseph,  Mo., 
declared  in  his  speech:  "I  am  thankful  that  the  time  has 
come  when  I  and  my  brothers,  as  Jews,  may  enter  this 
war,  even  as  an  ally  of  Russia." 

It  could  now  be  seen  once  more  how  the  man  who  fired 
the  shot  at  the  Lusitania  touched  off  a  greater  explosion 
than  he  or  Germany  had  dreamed  of.  Except  for  that  act, 
and  the  long  series  of  later  aggressions  upon  our  shipping, 
extending  over  twenty-three  months,  it  is  unlikely  that  the 
American  people  would  have  been  stirred  to  a  declaration 
of  war.  Among  our  citizens  were  tens  of  thousands  who 
thought  war  should  have  followed  that  act  instantly.  Balked 
of  their  desire  for  the  moment,  the  voices  of  these  were  nev- 
er stilled  until  the  consummation  they  sought  had  been  at- 


IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH  129 

tained.  The  sinking  of  the  Lusitania  arrayed  against  Ger- 
many a  nation  of  more  than  100,000,000  people,  admittedly 
the  richest  in  the  world,  whose  earnestness  was  shown  when 
war  came,  by  its  eagerness  to  appropriate,  without  a  dis- 
senting vote,  $7,000,000,000  as  a  first  contribution  to  the 
fund  for  Germany^s  defeat.  The  crime  had  turned  upon  the 
Kaiser  the  wrath  of  a  people  inclined  to  be  friendly,  robbed 
him  at  a  stroke  of  the  open  support  of  his  own  people  resi- 
dent here  and  who  by  birth  or  parentage  were  naturally 
devoted  to  his  fortunes.  The  Lusitania  torpedo  we  now 
can  see  involved  the  fate  of  the  German  Empire.  And 
yet  the  captain  who  was  responsible  for  the  crime  was 
decorated  for  it,  the  event  itself  was  celebrated  by  German 
school  children  as  a  holiday,  and  a  medal  was  struck  to 
commemorate  the  event.' 

One  of  the  moving  minor  scenes  of  the  day  in  Kan- 
sas City  was  a  meeting  between  the  Marshal  and  Emile  S. 
Brus,  French  consul  for  Kansas  City.  The  two  men  had 
been  fellow  soldiers  in  the  Franco-Prussian  War;  M.  Brus 
a  first  lieutenant.  Marshal  Joffre  then  only  a  second 
lieutenant.  They  were  both  at  Sedan.  While  exchanging 
greetings  with  the  Marshal,  M.  Brus  spoke  of  his  birth- 
place, Mazamet,  in  the  Department  of  Tarn.  M.  Viviani, 
standing  by,  caught  the  words.  "Mazamet?"  he  cried, 
grasping  M.  Brus's  hand.  "My  dear  mother  lives  there 
now." 

IN  ST.  LOUIS 

From  Kansas  City  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  went 
to  St.  Louis.  On  the  journey  across  Missouri  the  visitors 
had  an  excellent  view  of  the  country's  agricultural  opera- 
tions, as  intensified  by  the  war  demands  for  foodstuffs. 
Everywhere  were  seen  signs  of  activity  on  farms.     Brief 

*The  New  York  Sun. 


130  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

stops  were  made  at  Carrolton,  Moberly  and  Mexico,  where 
to  crowds  gathered  about  the  observation  platform  while 
bands  played  patriotic  tunes,  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal 
Joffre  and  other  members  of  the  party  were  presented  by 
Breckenridge  Long.  M.  Viviani  made  brief  remarks,  tell- 
ing the  people  how  honored  he  and  his  colleagues  felt  at 
the  reception  accorded  them  everywhere,  and  how  deeply 
appreciative  they  were.  Marshal  Joffre  was  everywhere  the 
center  of  attraction,  and  always  with  cries  of  *^Vive  la 
France'^  or  "Vive  le  marechal  J  off  re."  The  vociferous  wel- 
come everywhere  deepened  their  realization  of  the  willing- 
ness of  Americans  to  take  an  active  part  in  the  war.  The 
Middle  West  was  a  surprise  to  them  in  the  intense  patriot- 
ism shown  at  each  place  they  visited.  In  the  crowd  at 
Moberly  several  native  Frenchmen  who  shouted  their  greet- 
ings in  the  French  language  were  accorded  a  hearty  response 
with  handshakes  by  the  commissioners. 

On  arrival  in  St.  Louis  at  7:30  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
thej^  received  a  continuous  ovation,  though  the  gathering 
darkness  made  it  difficult  for  spectators  to  see  faces.  The 
crowd  in  the  streets  was  estimated  at  50,000  and  probably 
10,000  stood  outside  the  Coliseum,  where  20,000  had  gath- 
ered for  a  mass  meeting.  The  crowd  was  first  entertained 
with  music,  and  as  each  person  entered  the  building,  a 
Boy  Scout  gave  him  an  American  and  a  French  flag.  As 
the  French  mission  entered,  the  French  national  hymn 
was  sung.  Marshal  Joffre  holding  his  hand  at  salute  when 
escorted  to  the  platform.*  In  presenting  a  standard  of 
colors  to  the  new  Fifth  Missouri  Infantry,  he  said: 

I  present  this  flag  to  you.  And  when  I  present  it 
to  you,  I  need  not  say  it  is  the  symbol  of  your  native 
land.    It  will  lead  you  into  battle.    The  further  you 

*  The  St.  Louis  Globe-Democrat. 


IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH  131 

carry  it,  the  better  you  must  defend  it;  you  must 
sacrifice  your  lives,  one  and  all,  rather  than  let  it 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Perhaps  it  will 
go  to  France,  there  to  wave  side  by  side  with  the  flag 
of  France,  which  for  three  years  has  led  the  onset 
against  our  foes.  And  when  our  soldiers  see  the  Star- 
Spangled  Banner,  their  souls  will  thrill.  And  I  am 
assured  it  is  to  final  victory  both  will  go. 

M.  Viviani's  speech  follows : 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen :  I  wish  my  voice  were  pow- 
erful enough,  and  I  wish  my  words  could  be  expressed 
in  your  own  language,  so  clear  and  ringing,  so  that 
they  might  reach  across  this  hall  and  at  the  same  time 
find  a  way  to  your  hearts.  But  still,  for  only  a  few 
minutes,  allow  me  to  voice  to-night,  not  only  in  my 
name,  but  in  all  my  countrymen's  name,  to  whom 
you  have  given  such  a  hearty  welcome,  a  welcome  so 
worthy  of  France,  the  feelings  of  emotion  and  pride 
which  are  swelling  up  in  our  souls. 

"We  are  happy  to  find  ourselves  in  this  great  city  of 
St.  Louis.  Amidst  your  welcome,  we  shall  not  forget 
that  if  to-day  living  men  stand  up  to  escort  us,  we 
also  find  here  the  shades  of  our  ancestors,  of  the  first 
Frenchmen  who  found  themselves  in  this  city.  We 
are  happy  to  meet  here  people  of  all  races,  merged 
into  the  very  heart  of  the  fatherland,  merged  into 
the  life  of  this  city,  and  we  know  that,  whoever  they 
may  be,  they  remain  unflinchiagly  faithful  to  their 
American  fatherland  in  this  vast  conflict,  faithful  to 
the  country  of  which,  first  of  all,  they  are  sons. 


k 


132  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

And  I  am  also  happy,  for  my  part,  to  speak  here 
under  the  auspices  of  Mr.  Long,  our  friend,  your  rep- 
resentative, and  the  descendant  of  that  illustrious 
family,  one  of  whom  has  a  statue  on  one  of  your 
squares.  I  am  happy  to  greet  the  venerable  and 
distinguished  mother  of  the  assistant  secretary  of  the 
Department  of  State,  who,  ever  since  we  landed  on 
American  soil,  has  stretched  out  to  us  brotherly  hands, 
and  in  whose  heart  we  feel  the  love  he  bears  to  France, 
our  fatherland. 

Here,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  you  have  not  lost  the 
memory  of  the  great  historical  event  which  took  place 
here  a  few  months  ago.  It  is  in  this  hall,  where  you 
now  sit,  that  was  held  the  Democratic  convention, 
which  designated  as  its  presidential  candidate  your 
illustrious  fellow-countrymen,  President  Wilson.  At 
that  time  his  own  party  and  you,  ladies,  and  you 
also,  citizens,  did  not  realize  that  war  was  so  near  at 
hand;  you  were  hoping  you  might  long  enjoy  the 
blessings  of  peace,  and  at  that  very  moment  you  were 
going  through  the  same  drama  that  we,  the  French 
people,  went  through  three  years  ago.  France,  gener- 
ous and  pacific  France,  who  had  made  supreme  sacri- 
fices for  the  peace  of  the  world,  who  turned  toward 
humanity  with  feelings  of  love,  who  had  one  thought 
only,  to  bring  forth  liberty  for  all  nations — this  very 
same  France  was  attacked,  and  then  she  rose  for  the 
defense  of  her  honor  and  of  her  independence. 

For  nearly  three  years,  with  her  faithful  allies, 
but,  at  the  start  of  the  conflict,  almost  alone,  she  has 
been  struggling  breast  against  breast,  hand  against 


IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH  133 

hand,  weapon  against  weapon.  For  close  upon  three 
years,  in  the  deep  trenches,  the  sons  of  France  held 
in  check  the  enemies  who  were  striving  to  invade  her. 
For  close  upon  three  years  immortal  France,  faithful 
at  all  times  to  herself,  preserving  her  sacred  image 
pure  through  all  storms,  the  France  of  to-day,  worthy 
of  the  France  of  the  past,  raises  the  flag  which  is  torn 
by  shot  and  shell,  but  which  is  yet  held  aloft  by  the 
valiant  hands  of  her  soldiers. 

And,  a  few  minutes  ago,  in  that  touching  ceremony, 
touching  as  all  those  earnest  and  solemn  ceremonies 
in  which  soldiers  speak  in  plain  and  laconic  language, 
but  a  language  which  comes  from  the  depth  of  their 
hearts,  when,  in  the  name  of  the  Fifth  Kegiment  of 
St.  Louis,  one  of  your  officers  handed  to  Marshal 
Joffre  the  flag  which  he  at  once  returned  with  a  few 
earnest  words,  it  seemed  to  me  that  I  was  witnessing 
a  spectacle  comparable  to  that  which  I  witnessed  on 
the  soil  of  France.  How  often  have  we  seen  our  gen- 
erals hand  over  flags  to  our  children?  How  often 
have  we  seen  our  children  leave  for  the  hell  of  the 
fighting  line,  their  heads  erect,  their  hearts  full  of  a 
virile  joy,  for  they  knew  that  they  were  defending 
their  fatherland.  All  of  them,  they  kept  their  eyes 
fixed  on  the  flag,  on  the  flag  which  is  the  symbol  of 
liberty  and  justice. 

And,  just  as  we  were  able  to  preserve  the  flag  from 
any  stain,  just  as  our  children  would  rather  die  where 
they  stood  than  permit  that  sacred  rag  to  fall  to  the 
ground,  just  as  we  realized  that  it  was  the  soul  of 
the  fatherland  that  was  being  carried  forward  in  the 


134  BALFOUR,  VIYIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

folds  of  the  tricolor  flag,  in  the  same  way — ^because 
all  people  are  one  in  that — it  is  the  soul  of  the  Amer- 
ican fatherland  which  shines  radiant  through  the  stars 
of  the  American  flag,  and  Mr.  Mayor  was  right  when 
he  said  that  already  it  is  bringing  us  the  promise  of 
final  victory.  To-morrow  that  flag  will  be  waved  on 
the  battlefields. 

To-morrow  it  also  will  kaow  the  glory  of  conflict. 
Oh,  it  was  never  meant  to  sleep  in  peace  in  a  hall,  to 
be  placed  over  a  monument  and  to  feel  only  the  gentle 
breath  of  a  pacific  mind.  Because  it  was  the  symbol 
of  a  free  fatherland,  it  was  meant  to  face  the  risks 
of  the  battlefields,  and  to  return  in  glory,  so  that 
you  may  keep  it  in  a  temple  high  enough  and  sacred 
enough  to  pay  back  the  homage  which  is  due  to  it. 

Au  revoir,  then,  soldiers  of  the  Fifth  Regiment, 
sons  of  the  American  fatherland,  you  who  to-morrow, 
clothed  in  warlike  uniform,  will  bring  on  the  battle- 
field all  the  courage  which  you  have  shown  for  140 
years.  Au  revoir,  soldiers  of  the  American  fatherland. 
Perhaps  you  will  meet  over  there  across  the  Atlantic 
Ocean,  the  sons  of  the  French  fatherland,  the  sons 
of  the  Allies.  All  together  you  will  march  to  the 
fight.  And  why  will  you  march  to  the  fight?  Is  it 
in  order  to  rend  others,  is  it  to  conquer  territory,  is 
it  to  wrench  away  robber  hands,  a  province  or  a 
city  ?  No,  no.  It  is  not  thus  we  wage  war ;  we  wage 
war  for  justice,  for  universal  democracy,  for  right, 
that  autocracy  may  perish,  that  at  last  free  men 
may  draw  free  breath  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  peace 
and  in  the  pursuit  of  their  labors. 


IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH  135 

Next  day  there  was  a  breakfast  at  the  Missouri  Athletic 
Association,  followed  by  a  parade.  Thousands  left  their 
homes  early  in  the  day  to  gain  vantage  points  along  the 
route.  Many  had  in  mind  the  second  anniversary  of  the 
sinking  of  the  Lusitania,  and  regarded  the  ovation  accorded 
the  French  visitors  as  a  memorial  to  the  victims  of  that 
first  great  submarine  offense  against  the  United  States.  At 
the  breakfast,  where  700  prominent  citizens  toasted  France 
and  the  United  States,  gold  medals  of  honor  were  presented 
to  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  on  behalf  of  the  French 
Society  of  St.  Louis. 

AT   LINCOLN^S   TOMB 

From  Washington  to  Chicago,  from  Kansas  City  to  St. 
Louis,  to  the  tomb  of  Lincoln,  at  Springfield,  Illinois, 
thence  across  Indiana,  Ohio,  and  Pennsylvania,  to  Phila- 
delphia, the  trip,  begun  with  some  trepidation  as  to  the 
warmth  of  the  reception  it  might  get,  had  been  a  triumphal 
progress,  amid  roars  of  cheers,  seas  of  fiags,  demonstra- 
tions of  love  and  faith  in  the  allied  cause  from  beginning 
to  end.  M.  Viviani  declared  that  the  Middle  West  might 
win  the  war.  "It  took  personal  contact,"  said  he,  "for 
us  to  realize  the  immensity  of  the  Middle  West's  re- 
sources." "I  am  a  soldier  and  of  few  words,"  said  Mar- 
shal Joffre,  "but  I  feel  I  must  speak  when  greeted  with 
such  sights  as  welcomed  us  to  the  West.  The  enthusiasm 
manifested  everywhere  showed  that  the  Americans  fully 
realize  the  immensity  of  their  task.  They  are  preparing 
for  it  with  the  same  earnest  spirit  that  actuated  peasants 
and  citizens  of  France  early  in  the  war." 

Marshal  Joffre  and  M.  Viviani  at  Springfield,  with 
bowed  and  uncovered  heads,  filed  into  the  tomb  of  Lincoln 
with  the  military  and  civil  officials  who  accompanied  them, 


136  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

deposited  a  wreath  and  left  without  a  word.  At  the  State 
Capitol  an  official  reception  was  arranged  for  them.  From 
the  moment  when  the  visitors  stepped  from  their  train  at 
Springfield  until  they  departed,  an  hour  and  a  half  later, 
they  were  met  with  cheers  and  waving  tricolors.  Soldiers 
who  lined  the  streets  stood  at  attention.  Lines  of  school 
children  waved  flags  and  cheered  enthusiastically  as  they 
passed  from  downtown  districts  to  Oak  Ridge  Cemetery. 
As  their  train  in  leaving  drew  out  of  the  station,  Marshal 
Joffre  stooped  from  the  platform  and  kissed  two  little  girls 
dressed  to  represent  the  United  States  and  France. 

On  the  way  East,  from  Springfield,  the  train  at  night 
met  with  an  accident.  Investigation  near  the  scene  dis- 
closed a  broken  rail  about  twenty  feet  in  the  rear  of  the 
wrecked  train.  Whether  the  rail  was  broken  by  the  heavy 
engine  that  drew  the  train  or  as  the  result  of  a  plot  was 
undetermined.  Cars  hitting  the  broken  rail  bumped  off 
to  the  ties,  cutting  the  fishplate  bolts  which  joined  the 
rails,  thus  letting  the  rails  spread  and  throwing  the  cars 
off  the  tracks.  The  members  of  the  commission,  when  the 
crash  came,  were  sitting  in  the  luxuriously  appointed  din- 
ing-car, bedecked  with  flowers.  Amid  flying  food  and 
flowers,  Marshal  Joffre  grasped  the  window  ledge  and  re- 
mained unperturbed.  When  the  jolting  cars  finally  came 
to  a  stop,  awry  on  the  track,  he  arose,  assured  himself  that 
there  were  no  casualties  and  quietly  picking  his  way  out 
of  the  wreckage,  plodded  back  to  his  stateroom  in  the  ob- 
servation car,  where  he  sat  in  stolid  calm,  awaiting  relief 
from  the  unpleasant  situation.  M.  Viviani  climbed  the 
wreckage  and  waded  through  mud  and  weeds  to  examine  the 
debris,  his  stocky  figure  plodding  in  the  pale  moonlight, 
along  with  trainmen  in  overalls  swinging  lanterns.  M. 
Hovelaque,  his  square  black  beard  wagging  as  he  talked, 
argued  enthusiastically  with  the  conductor.     The  fears  of 


IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH  137 

the  two  French  orderlies  and  Marshal  Joffre^s  valet  were 
quieted  when  the  Secret  Service  chief  tossed  them  a  pack 
of  cards.  After  that  they  sat  in  the  half -wrecked  car,  quiet- 
ly playing  amid  the  excitement. 

IN  PHILADELPHIA 

On  May  9  in  Philadelphia  M.  Viviani  hailed  Inde- 
pendence Hall,  in  which  he  then  stood,  as  the  "birthplace  of 
the  liberty  of  the  world."  He  and  Marshal  Joffre  had  been 
escorted  from  the  Broad  Street  station  through  flag-draped 
and  closely-packed  lanes  of  cheering  humanity  to  the  room 
where  the  Declaration  was  signed.  They  afterwards  stood 
in  silence  for  a  moment  before  the  Liberty  Bell,  where 
Marshal  Joffre  tiptoed  forward  and  kissed  the  bell  and 
M.  Viviani  followed  him,  each  doing  so  without  a  word  or 
a  cheer  coming  from  the  crowd  that  surrounded  them. 
When  M.  Viviani  shook  Mayor  Smith's  hand  he  implanted 
a  kiss  upon  his  cheek. 

Before  leaving  the  building  Marshal  Joffre  was  pre- 
sented with  a  silver-mounted  marshal's  baton,  made  from 
wood  taken  out  of  a  rafter  in  the  roof  of  the  Hall.  He 
returned  thanks  in  a  low,  unemphatic,  almost  inaudible 
voice.  "I  thank  you,"  he  said.  "In  this  Hall  of  Inde- 
pendence where  true  liberty  was  first  proclaimed,  I  wish 
to  convey  to  the  people  of  Philadelphia  and  of  the  United 
States  the  greetings  of  the  French  army  and  the  grati- 
tude of  the  people  of  France  to  America  for  its  fidelity 
to  the  allied  cause."  Turning  to  M.  Viviani,  he  jokingly 
remarked :  "See,  I  have  now  a  piece  of  real  independence." 

After  a  brief  stop  at  the  recruiting  station  in  the  Hall, 
the  party  was  taken  in  automobiles  to  other  historic  places 
in  Philadelphia.  At  Christ  Church,  where  Washington 
worshiped,    they   rose   in    their   places    saluting.     Before 


138  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

the  Betsy  Ross  House,  where  the  first  flag  was  made,  they 
also  stood  at  salute.  On  the  stone  slab  above  the  grave  of 
Benjamin  Franklin  a  memorial  wreath  was  placed.  They 
were  then  taken  through  Fairmount  Park,  where  they 
paused  to  salute  the  statue  of  Joan  of  Arc.  In  the  house 
of  William  Penn,  a  sword  was  presented  to  Marshal  Joffre. 
Twenty  children  from  each  grammar  school  and  an  equal 
number  from  high  schools,  with  deputations  from  subur- 
ban schools,  were  present.  The  presentation  was  made  by 
a  young  lady  who  spoke  in  French.  At  the  conclusion  of 
her  speech  Marshal  Joffre  replied: 

Mademoiselle,  the  honor  of  this  gift  is  particularly 
dear  to  me  because  it  is  an  honor  conferred  on  me 
in  the  place  where  American  independence  was  born, 
and  I  am  here  as  a  representative  of  that  other  great 
democracy.  But  above  all,  what  gives  me  the  deepest 
pleasure  and  touches  me  most  closely  is  that  this  gift 
is  a  present  from  the  people.  Will  you  permit  me  to 
give  you  a  kiss  and  the  handclasp  of  France. 

Amid  cheers  for  France  Marshal  Joffre  stooped  and 
kissed  the  young  lady,  French  fashion,  on  each  cheek,  a 
salute  which  she  quickly  returned.  The  sword  was  made 
of  pure  gold  and  the  finest  steel,  hand-chased,  jewel  mount- 
ed, and  inscribed,  "To  a  Soldier  of  Freedom."  On  the 
guard,  in  jewels,  were  the  arms  of  the  Republic  of  France. 
Marshal  Joffre  and  M.  Viviani  were  acclaimed  by  over 
500,000  Philadelphians.  The  same  afternoon  they  departed 
for  New  York. 

THE  ITALIANS  IN  THE  SOUTH  AND  WEST 

The  Italian  mission,  its  work  in  Washington  completed, 
left  on  June  12  for  a  ten  days'  tour  of  the  country.     The 


IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH  139 

Prince  of  Udine,  however,  had  to  remain  in  Washington, 
because  of  an  ilhiess  which,  had  already  caused  a  post- 
ponement of  the  trip,  but  he  expected  to  be  able  to  join 
the  party  when  it  arrived  in  New  York  in  the  following- 
week.  The  first  stops  were  made  at  Atlanta  and  Birming- 
ham. Other  cities  visited,  in  the  order  named,  were: 
New  Orleans,  Memphis,  St.  Louis,  Burlington,  la.,  Chicago, 
Pittsburgh,  Harrisburg,  Philadelphia  and  New  York.  The 
Government  provided  a  special  train  for  the  tour.  One 
of  the  most  enthusiastic  receptions  which  the  Italian  Com- 
mission  had  occurred  at  the  Chicago  Stock  Yards.  After  a 
luncheon  at  the  Saddle  Sirloin  Club,  brief  speeches  were 
made.  One  of  these  was  by  the  Marquis  Luigi  Borsarelli, 
who  regretted  that  he  had  chosen  the  diplomatic  field  for 
his  life's  vocation,  "especially  when  able  to  see  and  admire 
the  results  you  have  achieved  here."  If  he  had  another  life 
to  live  he  "would  choose  the  occupation  which  you  follow 
rather  than  my  own."  The  luncheon  was  followed  by  a 
drive  over  the  city,  during  which  the  commission  placed  a 
wreath  on  the  statue  of  Lincoln  in  Lincoln  Park.  A  formal 
dinner  concluded  the  entertainment.  Guglielmo  Marconi, 
the  principal  speaker  at  the  dinner,  said: 

Among  all  the  nations  at  war  Italy  is  silently  taking 
the  greatest  strain  and  the  greatest  privation.  Only 
when  the  kind  of  war  Italy  is  fighting  becomes  fully 
known  will  the  world  realize  what  sacrifices  the  army 
and  the  people  of  Italy  have  accomplished. 

For  more  than  two  years  Italy  has  had  an  army  of 
more  than  3,000,000  men.  It  is  now  approaching 
4,000,000.  You  must  bear  in  mind  that  her  popula- 
tion is  a  little  over  37,000,000 — about  one-third  that 
of  the  United  States.     If  America  were  to  make  an 


140  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

equal  sacrifice  she  would  have  to  maintain  under  arms 
for  more  than  two  years  about  12,000,000  men,  and 
even  then  her  effort  would  not  be  equal  to  ours,  for 
the  wealth  of  the  United  States  is  incomparably 
greater  than  that  of  Italy.  To  feel  an  equal  strain 
America  would  have  to  fling  at  least  $30,000,000,000 
into  the  furnace  of  war. 

IN   PHILADELPHIA 

The  Italians  reached  Philadelphia  on  June  20,  and  for 
thirteen  hours  the  city  rang  with  its  welcome  to 
them.  Women  cried  like  babies  as  they  shouted  "vivas" 
in  trembling  voices,  while  men  roared  until  the 
entire  scene  was  a  bedlam.  Broad  Street  was  choked  by 
an  immense  throng  that  was  estimated  as  high  as  100,000. 
There  was  not  a  square  inch  of  the  thoroughfare  unpopu- 
lated from  the  middle  of  the  street  up  to  the  buildings. 
Italian  districts  had  been  deserted  to  make  a  holiday  and 
pour  out  lavish  greetings  to  Signer  Marconi  and  other  coun- 
trymen from  beyond  the  seas.  They  came  from  store,  shop, 
tenement  and  bank,  a  picturesque  multitude.  When  the  com- 
mission arrived  at  the  station,  as  the  noise  of  cheering 
inside  reached  the  massed  multitude  outside,  spontaneous 
shouts  made  a  roar  hardly  describable.  As  the  parade 
started  and  swung  past  the  City  Hall  the  ovation  grew  and 
grew  in  intensity.  Thousands  from  the  Italian  sections 
had  jammed  their  way  there,  and  it  seemed  as  if  each 
person  had  either  the  flag  of  Italy  or  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
in  his  hand.  Dozens  of  societies  stood  at  attention  as  their 
countrymen  rolled  by.  Each  organization  had  a  huge 
American  and  Italian  flag.  The  sight  of  these  standards 
towering  high  above  the  crowd  and  running  in  numbers 


IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH  141 

literally  into  the  hundreds,  made  a  veritable  forest  of  wav- 
ing, dancing,  blurred  colors  that  was  kaleidoscopic. 

Time  and  again  in  response  to  a  demonstration  Signor 
Marconi  was  compelled  to  stand  in  his  car  and  bow  to  the 
plaudits.  The  sight  of  this  trim,  dapper  inventor,  in  the 
uniform  of  a  sailor,  set  thousands  into  wild  outbursts  of 
cheering.  Women  held  up  their  babies  for  him  to  pat,  and 
he  did  so  as  he  passed  along  in  triumphal  progress.  Finally 
the  cars  bored  their  way  through  the  human  jam  to  the 
hotel.  Sons  of  Italy,  parading  under  the  names  of  scores 
of  societies,  marched  past,  cheering  like  mad  and  throwing 
their  hats  into  the  air  in  an  exuberance  that  no  Anglo- 
Saxons  could  duplicate  or  even  approach.  Streets  on  both 
sides  were  black  with  people,  while  the  crowd  overflowed 
into  side  streets,  and  piled  up  into  the  lobbies  and  upon 
the  steps  of  the  hotels.  In  gaudy  sashes  and  brilliant  uni- 
forms, the  organizations  marched  past.  "Little  Italy,"  from 
the  mother  who  doddled  a  wee  "bambino"  at  her  side,  to 
the  aged  and  tottering  grandfather,  was  all  represented  in 
the  vast  multitude  with  its  roars  and  explosive  adulations. 

Later  in  the  day  twenty  thousand  persons  gathered  about 
the  Columbus  and  Verdi  statues  in  Fairmount  Park  to 
see  wreaths  placed  on  the  statues.  The  occasion  was  made 
the  greatest  outdoor  demonstration  of  the  day.  In  front 
of  the  Columbus  statue  the  Commissioners  were  presented 
with  a  purse  of  more  than  $50,000  for  the  Italian  Red 
Cross  Society,  "as  an  expression  of  the  affection  Phil- 
adelphia's 200,000  Italian-born  citizens  still  hold  for  the 
mother  country." 

At  a  banquet  that  evening  which  the  city  officially 
tendered  to  the  mission,  Italian  citizens  were  said  to  have 
subscribed  200,000  lire,  or  almost  $40,000,  which  they  en- 
trusted to  Signor  Arlotta  to  present  to  the  Prince  of  Udine, 
to  take  back  to  Italy,  for  distribution  to  widows  and  orphans 


142  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

of  soldiers  who  had  fallen  in  defense  of  their  country. 
The  gift,  enclosed  in  a  handsome  silver  casket,  was  pre- 
sented while  the  banquet  hall  rang  with  cheers  and  plaudits. 
Amid  a  silence  that  was  dramatic,  the  envoys  were  made 
to  hear  the  voice  of  the  Liberty  Bell  through  a  proxy  call. 
Leaders  in  various  city  activities  listened  with  as  keen  a 
relish  as  the  envoys.  All  were  visibly  affected.  The  Mayor 
in  welcoming  the  envoys,  told  of  the  common  brotherhood 
that  existed  between  the  United  States  and  Italy,  through 
the  common  warfare  which  they  were  waging.  Signor 
Marconi,  speaking  in  English,  recited  graphically  con- 
ditions as  they  exist  in  Italy.  He  spoke  about  the  short- 
age of  coal,  as  marking  a  grave  situation,  and  one  that 
must  be  remedied  if  Italy's  efficiency  as  an  ally  is  to 
be  unimpaired.  Signor  Arlotta,  who  spoke  in  Italian, 
dwelt  on  the  heroic  sacrifices  and  the  tremendous  fight- 
ing which  Italy  had  contributed  as  her  share  in  the  war. 
He  declared  the  purpose  of  his  country  in  this  conflict  to  be 
to  free  it  from  the  rule  and  domination  of  Austria. 

Fifty  thousand  persons  next  morning  jammed  the  side- 
walks during  a  pilgrimage  made  by  the  envoys  to  Inde- 
pendence Hall — a  multitude  not  less  exuberant  and  en- 
thusiastic than  the  throng  which  greeted  them  on  their 
arrival.  Independence  Hall  was  surrounded  on  all  sides 
by  a  dense  crowd,  as  on  the  occasion  of  M.  Viviani's  and 
Marshal  Joffre's  visit.  The  majority  were  Italians,  who 
welcomed  the  envoys  with  ear-splitting  noises.  Mayor 
Smith  escorted  them  to  the  corner  where  the  Liberty  Bell 
stands.  Signor  Arlotta  and  his  associates,  including  Signor 
Marconi,  touched  the  bell  with  reverence.  The  Marquis 
Borsarelli  inquired  how  the  crack  came  into  the  bell  and 
traced  with  his  gloved  finger  the  date  of  the  bell,  while 
he  plied  the  Mayor  with  questions. 

Then  came  an  outstanding  dramatic  incident.    When  the 


IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH  143 

party  reached  the  pavement  outside,  the  Italian  consul 
was  seen  escorting  two  diminutive  figures,  dressed  in  sever- 
est mourning,  a  man  and  a  woman,  who  were  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gaetano  del  Gatto,  parents  of  Luigi  del  Gatto,  who  had 
lost  his  life  at  the  battle  of  Loxvica  on  September  14,  1916. 
Luigi,  though  bom  in  the  Abruzzi,  had  come  to  this  coun- 
try with  his  parents.  He  was  in  Boston  when  Italy  entered 
the  war,  but  immediately  returned  to  Italy  and  joined  the 
army  commanded  by  the  Due  d^Aosta.  The  Italian  consul 
murmured  a  few  words  as  to  these  circumstances  to  Signor 
Arlotta,  who  instantly  hooked  his  arms  into  those  of  the 
del  Gattos,  backed  with  them  to  the  steps  of  Independence 
Hall  and  shouted  in  Italian  to  the  crowd  to  gather  closely 
around  him.  The  consul  then  read  a  letter  from  the  Due 
d'Aosta  extolling  the  deeds  of  Luigi.  Signor  Arlotta  ad- 
dressed his  parents  in  Italian,  and  General  Gugielmotti  after 
he  had  smartly  saluted,  pinned  a  medal  upon  the  breast  of 
Luigi's  father,  threw  his  arms  about  his  neck  and  im- 
planted a  smack  on  his  right  cheek.  While  del  Gatto's 
wife  stood  weeping  softly  beside  him,  but  trying  to  smile 
through  her  tears,  del  Gatto  excited  the  Italians  to  a 
great  outburst  by  a  speech  with  which  he  accepted  this 
tribute  to  his  son.*  With  his  finger  pointed  toward  Heaven, 
he  said,  in  a  voice  that  carried  to  the  outer  edges  of  the 
multitude : 

I  am  overjoyed  to  learn  that  my  son  was  willing 
to  die  for  his  country,  and  I  am  glad  that  I  could 
give  him  willingly  for  the  holy  cause  of  liberty.  I 
am  sad  that  he  is  dead,  but  in  my  sadness  I  am  glad 
that  he  died  like  a  hero,  and  that  these  nobles  from  my 
country  have  given  him  such  a  tribute.    I  know,  as 

*The  Philadelphia  Public  Ledger. 


144  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFPRE 

a  father  who  has  given  his  son  to  war,  that  with  the 
United  States  and  Italy  joined  as  allies  the  war  will 
be  won,  and  those  who  want  to  crush  liberty  will  be 
crushed  themselves. 

The  din  that  was  aroused  by  this  patriotic  speech  was 
terrific.  With  the  incident  closed,  the  visitors  proceeded 
into  and  along  Market  Street,  and  when  in  front  of  the 
Wanamaker  store  came  upon  a  girls'  battalion  armed  with 
rifles  and  in  natty  vivandiere  costumes,  drawn  up  on  one 
side,  with  boy  cadets  on  the  other,  stalwart  youngsters  in 
Highland  costume,  with  bagpipes.  Bands  joined  in  a 
medley  of  Italian  and  American  patriotic  melodies. 

The  guests  were  then  entertained  at  a  reception  and 
luncheon  at  the  Manufacturers'  Club,  where  the  final  stop 
of  the  day  was  made.  The  lobby  blazed  with  the  colors 
of  both  nations,  while  a  gigantic  Italian  flag  in  red,  green, 
and  white  incandescent  lights  shone  at  the  end.  The 
bright  particular  star  at  the  luncheon  was  Giannini,  a 
former  grand  opera  singer,  who  was  now  the  proprietor 
of  a  restaurant  in  Philadelphia,  and  who  in  a  rich  bari- 
tone sang  "0  Sole  Mia."  Signor  Marconi  and  Signor  Arlotta 
were  gracious  in  their  thanks  for  the  hospitality  and  the  wel- 
come which  they  had  received.  In  conclusion  Signor  Arlotta 
proposed  a  toast  to  "Democracy,  Justice  and  Liberty,"  which 
all  drank  amid  "vivas"  and  deep-throated  cheering.  "Your 
Liberty  Bell,"  said  Signor  Arlotta,  "does  not  need  to  pro- 
claim liberty  again  in  America,  for  America  is  full  to  over- 
flowing with  liberty  now.  But  we  hope  that  after  this  war 
ends  the  Liberty  Bell  will  again  sound  the  tocsin  for  lib- 
erty throughout  the  whole  world." 

At  the  departure  of  the  envoys  the  Reading  Terminal 
was  decorated  lavishly  with  flags  of  both  nations.  A  po- 
lice band  sped  them  away  in  a  crash  of  cymbals.    As  their 


IN  THE  WEST  AND  SOUTH  145 

special  train  slowly  pulled  out  of  the  station  they  stood  on 
the  obsersration  platform  waving  tiny  American  flags,  and 
dashing  tears  from  their  eyes  as  the  din  of  their  farewell 
reechoed  through  the  grimy,  smoke-stained  trainshed  of 
the  terminal.  The  mighty  tumult  that  prevailed,  in  reality 
a  sort  of  roaring  explosion,  manifestly  had  stirred  the  en- 
voys to  the  depths.  They  carried  away  with  them  an  urgent 
plea  from  Mayor  Smith  that,  when  peace  came  to  bind  up 
a  world  then  torn  asunder,  the  pact  would  be  signed  in 
Independence  Hall/ 

THE  BELGIANS  IN  THE  WEST  AND   FAR  WEST 

By  the  end  of  June,  the  Belgian  Mission  had  arranged  a 
trip  through  the  interior  states,  extending  to  the  Pacific 
Coast.  Invitations  had  been  received  from  scores  of 
cities.  The  tour  of  the  Belgians  was  the  most  elaborate  of 
all  those  made  by  foreign  visitors.  They  proceeded  to  the 
Pacific  Coast  at  Seattle  by  way  of  Chicago,  Milwaukee, 
St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis,  and  thence  went  to  Portland  and 
San  Francisco,  returning  by  way  of  Los  Angeles,  Salt 
Lake  City,  Colorado  Springs,  Denver,  Louisville  and  Cin- 
cinnati to  Washington.  Some  of  the  features  of  the  en- 
tertainments offered  were  designed  to  give  a  demonstra- 
tion of  the  democracy  of  the  country.  At  St.  Paul,  for 
example,  the  Commission  was  introduced  to  democracy 
on  July  4  through  an  old-fashioned  American  picnic.  The 
distinguished  visitors  were  offered .  lemonade  in  tin  cups 
and  buttermilk  in  sanitary  paper  cups.  Each  commissioner, 
as  well  as  every  one  else  on  the  grounds,  received  a  pack- 
age of  popcorn  free. 

Archbishop  Ireland,  in  St.  Paul,  moved  members  of  the 
Commission  to  a  spontaneous  demonstration  of  affection, 

'The  Philadelphia  Public  Ledger.  r 


146  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

after  he  had  expressed  his  belief  that  the  flag  of  the  United 
States  "would  not  be  withdrawn  from  the  battlefields  of 
Europe  until  the  suffering  people  of  Belgium  had  been 
restored  to  their  homes."  "If  need  be,"  he  said,  "the  100,- 
000,000  people  of  the  United  States  are  ready  to  lay  down 
their  lives  for  the  cause  of  humanity  and  the  restoration  of 
the  rights  of  these  devastated  people."  General  Leclercq,  of 
the  Commission,  broke  down  when  he  undertook  to  make  a 
response.  Being  unable  to  express  himself  in  words,  he 
stepped  over  to  the  archbishop  and  embraced  him  warmly. 
Several  thousand  spectators,  similarly  affected,  turned  their 
heads  away.  For  a  time  the  meeting  was  halted  while  the 
Belgians  gathered  around  the  archbishop  to  express  their 
sratitude. 


IV 

VISITS    TO    NEW   YORK 

M.  VIVIANI  AND  MARSHAL   JOFFRE   AT  THE  BATTERY  AND  IN 
BROADWAY 

New  York  welcomed  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  on 
the  afternoon  of  May  9  as  no  other  men  had  ever  been 
greeted  on  Manhattan  Island,  with  shouts,  many  flags,  and 
tears.  All  the  poise  and  indifference  in  which  the  city 
commonly  ^^jrapped  itself  was  put  aside  as  it  held  out  eager 
arms  of  welcome.  Men  laughed  and  sobbed  at  once  when 
the  simple,  gentle-visaged  Marshal  of  France  rode  through 
the  streets.  In  him  they  saw  France  herself  as  the  fighter 
of  many  stem  and  desperate  battles,  a  strong,  unassum- 
ing democrat,  still  cheerful  though  weary  under  the  burden 
of  three  martial  years.  Streets  running  north  and  south, 
east  and  west,  were  filled  with  the  roar  of  probably  a  mil- 
lion voices  and  the  color  of  thousands  of  banners. 

About  Pier  A,  where  the  visitors  landed,  a  court  of 
honor  had  been  set  up,  composed  of  white  and  gilt  posts, 
roped  together  with  evergreens  and  bearing  medallion  heads 
of  Britannia  and  La  France,  designed  by  Edwin  H.  Blash- 
field.  Within  this  Court  had  waited  the  automobiles  of 
the  reception  committee,  the  chairman  of  which  was  Joseph 
H.  Choate.  A  squadron  of  mounted  police  hemmed  them 
in.  Beyond  was  Squadron  A  drawn  up  as  a  guard  of 
honor.  Back  of  the  court,  held  in  check  by  hundreds  of 
policemen,  were  twenty  thousand  persons.     When  the  red 

147 


148  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

cap  of  the  Marshal  was  first  seen  at  the  doorway  of  the 
pier,  the  voice  of  New  York  spoke  for  the  first  time,  not 
in  distinct  cheering,  but  as  a  solid,  mounting  roar  that 
swelled  and  ebbed  like  surf  in  a  great  storm.  Automobile 
horns  and  the  bugles  of  cavalry  only  now  and  then  were 
able  to  pierce  the  din.  Not  until  three  hours  later  when 
the  doors  of  the  Henry  C.  Frick  mansion  on  Fifth  Avenue 
at  Seventieth  Street  closed  upon  the  visitor  for  the  night, 
did  the  cry  of  greeting  die  away. 

When  the  long  line  of  automobiles  began  to  move  from 
the  Battery  to  Broadway,  they  had  to  make  their  way  be- 
tween packed  and  cheering  thousands.  Before  them  clat- 
tered the  hoofs  of  the  horses  of  mounted  police  and 
Squadron  A.  Never  could  the  police  entirely  control 
the  crowd.  At  times  it  broke  through  like  a  river  in  flood. 
Men  and  boys  waved  small  flags,  tossed  hats  in  the  air, 
screamed  until  their  voices  cracked.  Above  all  on  the 
high  walls  of  buildings  flags  waved  in  the  breeze — the 
Stars  and  Stripes,  the  Union  Jack,  the  Tricolor.  From 
side  to  side  of  the  canon-like  thoroughfare  filaments  floated 
like  strands  of  spider^s  web  and  snow  seemed  to  fall  from 
roofs,  effects  produced  by  rolls  of  ticker  tape,  and  showers 
of  confetti.  Voices  often  became  shrill  from  overexertion. 
Some  of  them  could  still  pierce  through  the  deep  roar,  but 
they  were  like  the  squealings  of  fifes.  In  the  first  automo- 
bile were  Marshal  Joffre,  M.  Viviani  and  Mr.  Choate.* 

Marshal  Joffre  was  not  bronzed,  as  one  might  have  ex- 
pected of  a  soldier  who  had  spent  almost  three  years  in 
the  field.  In  contrast  with  General  Leonard  Wood  and  the 
American  officers  who  stood  with  him,  he  was  pink  and 
white.  Instead  of  showing  a  shock  of  all  white  hair,  white 
eyebrows  and  military  white  mustache,  as  indicated  by  some 

*The  New  York  Tribune. 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  149 

of  the  photographs,  the  victor  of  the  Mame  was  still  blond 
and  fresh.  His  thick  light  yellow  hair  had  some  white 
streaks  in  it  and  so  had  his  mustache,  but  the  predominant 
note  was  the  pale  gold  one  associates  with  Scandinavians. 
He  was  from  the  south  of  France,  racially  a  Basque. 
Once  during  the  ceremonies  at  the  City  Hall  was  he  seen 
to  smile,  but  seldom  during  his  ride  through  the  streets. 
When  the  smile  came  it  was  as  a  quick  breaking  of  a  some- 
what troubled  countenance — like  sunshine  piercing  bril- 
liantly through  an  overcast  sky.  Neither  his  sixty-five 
years  nor  the  burden  he  had  carried  so  long  had  aged 
him  or  slowed  his  step.*  In  his  face  there  still  lingered 
something  of  the  boy.  It  was  the  face  of  a  puzzled  and 
embarrassed  boy  as  he  heard  the  cheering  that  greeted 
him,  constant,  roaring  cheers,  not  only  in  lower  Broadway 
and  in  the  City  Hall,  but  later  all  the  way  northward,  past 
the  Lafayette  Statue  in  Union  Square,  and  up  Fifth  Ave- 
nue to  the  Frick  mansion,  where  at  dinner  that  night  he 
chatted  about  war  with  Theodore  Roosevelt.  It  was  often 
noted  that  when  the  roar  of  cheers  was  greatest  the  im- 
perturbable Marshal  was  calmly  looking  up  at  skyscrapers. 
He  seemed  to  be  counting  the  stories.  Once  he  was  heard 
to  say  "Vingt-et-un." 

At  3 :45 — or  about  the  time  when  crowds  were  beginning 
to  gather  in  lower  Broadway  and  the  Battery — the  police 
had  started  to  clear  all  sightseers  out  of  the  City  Hall 
Plaza,  preliminary  to  the  coming  of  the  several  organiza- 
tions that  had  been  accorded  a  place  in  the  ceremony  of  wel- 
come. First  to  arrive  were  the  Old  Guard,  headed  by  former 
Mayor  Adolph  L.  Kline.  Meanwhile,  the  crowd,  thinned 
earlier  in  the  afternoon  by  a  shower,  had  reassembled  in 
greater  masses,  undeterred  by  a  chill  wind  and  threatening 

*  The  New  York  World. 


I 


150  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

clouds.  All  business  had  been  suspended.  People  who 
managed  to  edge  their  way  into  the  crowd  had  to  stand 
where  they  were,  helpless  to  move  forward  or  back.  Below 
the  park  every  window  of  the  Post-Office  Building  was 
crowded,  and  so  were  the  roofs  of  low  buildings  on  the 
west  side  of  Broadway.  Dozens  of  men  were  seen  on  the 
roofs  of  street  cars  standing  in  Park  Row,  in  the  windows 
of  buildings  that  rose  far  into  the  sky  along  Park  Row 
and  Nassau  Street.  In  the  massive  Woolworth  Build- 
ing that  shut  off  half  the  western  sky  were  clusters  of 
people  in  every  window. 

IN  THE  CITY  HALL 

After  word  came  that  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  had 
landed  at  the  Battery,  cheers  were  heard  rolling  up  Broad- 
way. As  they  came  nearer,  swarms  about  the  park  edged 
in  closer  only  to  be  pushed  back  by  the  police,  little  knots 
in  windows  leaned  out  further,  men  on  the  street-car  roofs 
risked  tumbling  as  they  craned  their  necks  for  a  first  sight 
of  the  man  who  won  at  the  Marne.  First  to  be  seen  were 
the  hats  and  bare  sabers  of  Squadron  A,  halting  at  the 
entrance  to  the  park  to  salute  as  the  visitors  went  past. 
As  a  troop  of  mounted  police  galloped  into  the  Plaza,  the 
Seventh  Regiment  band  struck  up  the  "Marseillaise."  On 
the  heels  of  the  police  came  the  car  in  which  was  Marshal 
Joffre.  The  crowd  needed  only  the  sight  of  his  red  cap 
to  shout  and  cheer.  Cries  that  rose  from  the  enclosing 
walls  of  skyscrapers  came  back  in  redoubled  echoes.  Mr. 
Choate  and  M.  Viviani  got  out  first,  then  Marshal  Joffre. 
The  red  cap,  the  fiuttering  blue-gray  cape  that  gave  a 
glimpse  of  red  trousers,  were  signals  enough;  cheers  broke 
forth,  wave  after  wave,  rising  in  greater  volume  and  last- 
ing until  the  whole  automobile  party  had  climbed  the  steps 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  151 

and  passed  into  the  building.  On  the  steps  stood  men  of 
the  Old  Guard,  sabers  at  salute,  and  wearing  their  great 
bearskins,  reminiscent  of  another  Old  Guard  that  had 
fought  a  hundred  years  before  under  another  great  soldier 
of  France.  To  the  left  and  right  were  members  of  the 
Veteran  Corps  of  Artillery.  Inside  the  lobby  gleamed 
patent  leather  shakoes  and  white  duck  trousers  on  members 
of  the  Society  of  the  War  of  1812,  and  the  buff  and  blue 
of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  whose  forefathers  had 
greeted  Frenchmen  on  the  same  spot. 

Through  lines  of  officers,  with  swords  at  salute,  the  vis- 
itors strode  up  the  central  stairway  and  turned  into  the 
Governor's  room,  the  southern  end  of  which  had  been 
cleared  for  their  reception.  There  Mayor  Mitchel,  General 
Wood,  General  Bell,  Admiral  Usher  and  civilian  members 
of  the  Mayor's  Committee  had  gathered  to  receive  the  vis- 
itors. In  the  little  gallery  was  another  throng.  With 
policemen  keeping  men  back  the  Commissioners  were  taken 
to  a  dais  in  the  Aldermanic  Chamber,  where  the  pale 
green  and  white  walls  of  the  rooms  had  given  place  to  a 
background  of  evergreens  with  two  pillars,  draped  one 
with  the  colors  of  Great  Britain,  the  other  with  those  of 
France,  on  either  side  of  a  cross  piece  from  which  the 
American  flag  hung  above  the  heads  of  the  visitors.  M. 
Viviani  stood  in  the  center.  Marshal  Joffre  on  the  right, 
and  Vice  Admiral  Chocheprat  on  his  left.  To  the  right  of 
the  Marshal  stood  Lieut.  Colonel  Fabry,  his  chief  of  staff, 
and  other  members  of  the  Commission.  It  was  with  diffi- 
culty that  the  buzzing,  eager  crowd  was  made  quiet  so 
that  Mayor  Mitchel  could  speak  his  words  of  welcome. 

The  crowd  could  not  long  listen  to  Mayor  Mitchel  in 
silence.  Cheers  first  broke  out  when  he  mentioned,  ''Our 
gallant  ally  and  historic  friend,  the  French  Republic." 
Loud  shouts  of  "Vive  la  France  I"  c>ame  through  bursts  of 


152  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

hand-clapping.  There  was  renewed  applause  at  mention 
of  M.  Viviani.  The  crowd,  however,  did  not  really  let 
itself  go  until  the  Mayor  said:  "We  rejoice  to  hail  the 
great  Marshal  of  France."  There  was  now  prolonged  ap- 
plause, during  which  the  Marshal  saluted  impassively. 
It  broke  out  again  when  the  Mayor  spoke  of  the  Mame, 
and  still  again  when  he  called  Marshal  Joffre  "the  savior 
of  civilization  and  democracy."  Cheers  also  were  given 
for  Admiral  Chocheprat  and  Marquis  de  Chambrun,  and 
still  louder  applause  at  mention  of  Lafayette.  The  refer- 
ence to  France  in  the  latter  part  of  the  Mayor^s  remarks 
was  interrupted  after  almost  every  phrase.  It  was  with 
difficulty  that  the  enthusiasm  was  stilled  enough  to  permit 
the  Mayor  to  say:  "Gentlemen,  I  present  to  you  the  Hon. 
Joseph  H.  Choate,  who  will  speak  for  the  citizens  of  New 
York."  Mr.  Choate  spoke  more  rapidly  and  passionately 
than  usual.  His  reference  to  Lafayette  evoked  a  great 
burst  of  cheering,  followed  by  other  bursts  and  still  others 
as  he  praised  the  accomplishments  of  France  in  this  war. 
The  cheering  that  interrupted  Mayor  Mitchel  and  Mr. 
Choate  was  as  nothing  to  the  outburst  that  came  when  the 
Mayor  presented  M.  Viviani.  All  over  the  room  silk  hats 
were  waved  wildly,  stolid  white-haired  men  shouted  again 
and  again  until  he  began  to  speak.  All  through  the  earlier 
part  of  the  exercises  he  had  stood  impassive,  almost  inert, 
save  that  now  and  then  he  passed  a  hand  nervously  across 
his  forehead.  He  began  in  a  rather  constrained  manner, 
but  before  long  was  pouring  out  such  a  burst  of  oratory 
as  his  hearers,  of  more  reserved  race,  were  not  accustomed 
to  hear.  Many  did  not  understand  French,  but  there  were 
enough  who  did  to  secure  breaks  into  spontaneous  cheering 
again  and  again.  It  was  the  achievement  of  M.  Viviani 
that  he  gave  a  new  and  wholly  spontaneous  turn  to  the 
occasion  and  to  the  temper  of  his  audience.    As  he  referred 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  153 

to  the  army  and  navy  he  laid  his  hand  first  on  the  shoulder 
of  Marshal  Joffre,  then  on  that  of  Admiral  Chocheprat :  * 

Gentlemen,  at  last  we  have  reached  the  shores  of 
this  great  city,  whose  splendor  had  already  been 
described  to  us  and  had  attracted  us.  In  my  own 
name,  and  in  the  name  of  my  fellow  countrymen,  I  am 
compelled  to  admit  that,  in  contrast  with  what  usually 
happens  in  life,  our  expectations  have  been  greatly 
surpassed  by  the  realities.  Your  eminent  statesman, 
Ambassador  of  his  country  to  foreign  lands,  whose 
words  I  am  happy  to  hear  among  you,  has  just  said 
that  he  could  find  no  proper  language  to  express  what 
America  owes  to  France.  If  you,  after  such  a  welcome 
as  you  have  given  us,  can  find  no  words,  how  shall  I 
who,  with  my  fellow-countrymen,  have  received  this 
welcome,  elevate  my  speech  to  the  level  of  the  magnifi- 
cent achievements  which  you  have  accomplished  ? 

We  are  at  last  arrived  in  this  hall  in  which  Mayor 
Mitchel  has  received  us  with  such  great  kindness  in 
the  name  of  the  great  city  which  he  governs.  He  has 
been  kind  enough  to  say  words — gracious  and  weighty 
at  once — which  have  gone  deep  into  our  hearts  and 
into  our  minds.  I  thank  him  for  having  introduced 
us  to  this  Municipal  Government,  which  I  salute,  to 
the  Senior  General,  to  the  General  commanding  the 
troops  of  the  East,  to  the  Admiral  commanding  the 
fleet  at  New  York.  As  you  very  aptly  said,  you  have 
gathered  in  this  magnificent  hall,  not  only  the  citizens, 
not  only  the  members  of  the  municipality,  but  also 
the  soldiers,  the  Army  and  the  Navy  Commanders, 

*  The  New  York  Times. 


154  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

thus  showing  that  at  the  present  time  we  need  not 
only  think  but  act.  The  efficiency  of  your  magnifi- 
cent administration  was  known  to  us  even  before  we 
thought  of  visiting  this  wonderful  city.  We  knew  how 
this  municipality,  which  governs  a  population  that 
some  kingdoms  in  Europe  do  not  possess,  has 
organized  this  vast  harbor,  of  which  it  is  so  justly 
proud — from  which  port  the  warships  have  left  and 
from  which  ships  will  leave  now  decorated  with  tri- 
colored  flags,  showing  the  way  in  triumph  and  glory. 
When  we  reached  your  shores  we  admired  the  Statue 
of  Liberty,  which  we  have  so  often  beheld  in  pictures 
and  which  now  throws  its  light  upon  the  whole  world. 

May  you  be  thanked,  Mr.  Mayor,  and  you  also,  Mr. 
Choate,  for  these  words  you  have  said.  It  is  not  us 
you  welcome ;  it  is  not  to  us  these  words  are  directed. 
Through  our  persons  they  go  to  France,  and  we  need 
not  say  that  we  shall  faithfully  repeat  them,  not  only 
because  they  are  gracious  words  dictated  by  interna- 
tional courtesy,  but  also  because  they  are  powerful 
and  earnest  words,  which  have,  if  I  may  say  so,  all 
the  beauty  and  richness  of  a  bronze  medal.  You 
were  right  when  you  dwelt  on  the  wonderful  spectacle 
which  France  has  given  to  the  world  for  three  years. 
You  were  right  when  you  said  that  the  blood  of 
France  is  flowing  like  water.  From  the  open  wounds 
of  our  soldiers  has  flown  the  pure  red  blood  of  France. 
It  has  flooded  our  plains  in  the  very  spots  where 
formerly  our  farmers  and  our  workmen  were  living 
at  peace. 

And  why  does  the  invader  so  pollute  our  soil  ?    We 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK        ^  155 

are  a  pacific  nation,  as  pacific  as  yourselves,  but  you 
have  seen  for  yourselves  how  easy  it  was  to  remain 
faithful  to  dreams  of  universal  peace.  You  cherished 
such  dreams.  You  were  a  great  people,  with  only  one 
thought — ^humanity  and  justice.  We  were  a  free 
democracy  and  we  had  only  one  thought — universal 
right  and  humanity.  But  German  aggression  was 
thrust  upon  us.  We  were  compelled  to  rise  in  arms, 
and  now  we  fight — ^we  fight  for  our  territory,  for  our 
wealth,  for  our  historical  traditions — in  order  that 
the  invader  may  not  take  another  step  on  our  sacred 
soil.  France  fights  for  the  world — for  justice,  for 
humanity — and  it  is  because  she  fights  for  that  that 
at  last  the  American  people  have  risen  to  give  France 
and  her  allies  her  moral  and  material  aid. 

You  have  said  that  sympathy  was  not  sufficient.  We 
are  aware  of  the  sympathy  with  which  for  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  years  you  have  cheered  the  heart  of 
France.  We  knew  that  you  would  not  be  forgetful 
nor  ungrateful,  and  just  as  on  your  public  squares 
you  have  erected  statues  of  Lafayette  you  carry  his 
memory  in  your  heart.  We  knew  that  a  great  free 
people,  proud  of  its  traditions  and  its  history,  vener- 
ated the  memory  of  a  foreign  General  who,  in  the 
birth  throes  of  its  independence,  brought  it  the  help 
of  French  courage  and  genius.  Since  the  beginning 
of  the  war  we  have  received  proof  of  your  sympathy 
in  numerous  and  most  generous  forms.  We  have  re- 
ceived innumerable  proofs  of  your  fraternal  affection 
in  the  many  charitable  gifts  which  our  orphans  and 
our  wounded  have  received.    You  felt  it  was  not  suffi- 


156  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

cient  to  stand   by  and   admire  only  our  devotion. 

I  fully  understand  how  you  faltered  in  the  face  of 
the  awful  duty  that  confronted  you.  For  war  has  its 
dangers  and  its  horrors,  its  moaning  widows,  its  prema- 
ture deaths,  and  casts  a  blight  on  the  mothers  of 
infants  who  are  our  hope  and  joy  and  who  know 
only  woe  and  calamity.  War  is  a  horrible  thing,  but 
could  there  be  anything  more  terrible  for  people  than 
to  live  without  honor  or  independence?  Just  as  you 
were  unwilling  to  allow  your  national  honor  to  be 
humiliated  under  the  insolent  threats  and  mandates 
of  Germany,  we  were  unwilling  to  submit  to  break 
our  oaths.  When  we  look  back  into  the  events  of  the 
last  three  years,  you  have  seen  small  peoples  op- 
pressed and  great  nations  like  Russia,  England, 
France,  and  Italy  rush  to  the  defense  of  the  rights 
of  mankind  in  order  to  save  from  the  wreck  some 
portion  of  their  national  honor.  You  have  felt  the 
revolt  of  your  consciences  from  the  first  hour  when 
German  aggression  struck  at  your  brothers,  and  it 
was  then  an  easy  matter  for  those  who  had  witnessed 
the  evolution  of  American  feeling  to  foresee  what 
would  happen  and  what  has  actually  happened  since. 

All  America  has  risen  in  arms.  We  have  just 
visited  the  Middle  West.  We  have  just  seen  what 
enthusiasm  has  arisen  among  the  men,  the  women, 
and  the  children  of  those  regions. 

We  have  found  everywhere,  even  in  those  very 
places  where  we  had  been  told  we  would  not  find  it, 
the  virile  resolution  of  a  whole  people  acclaiming 
our  message,  and  we  find  it  here  again  in  these  streets 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  157 

of  New  York,  this  great  city  where  millions  of  men 
surge  like  waves  of  the  sea.  This,  then,  is  what  is  in 
store  for  us  in  this  city.  We  have  received  a  brotherly 
welcome  which  has  gone  deep  into  our  hearts.  You 
may  rest  assured  that  we  shall  not  forget  it,  and  from 
the  height  on  which  I  stand,  across  the  distance  which 
separates  us  from  France,  allow  me  to  bow  to  this 
country. 

Allow  me  to  pay  a  tribute  to  this  country,  allow  me 
to  thank  you  for  the  unforgettable  welcome  we  have 
received  at  your  hands.  France,  to  whom  all  is  due, 
who  has  suffered  all  things,  borne  all  things  except 
shame,  except  humiliation;  France,  who  would  not 
kneel  before  the  forces  which  thought  so  easily  to 
overcome  her,  fought  for  the  common  right  of  hu- 
manity, for  justice,  and  it  was  the  people  of  France, 
as  a  whole,  not  only  the  army,  but  a  democracy  in 
arms,  all  her  children,  who  rose  up  to  defend  her. 

We  are  going  back  to  our  country,  bringing  from 
here  all  that  moral  encouragement  and  material  aid 
which  will  steel  our  souls,  give  strength  to  our  pur- 
pose, and  hearten  our  people.  We  shall  tell  our  fellow- 
countrymen  that  millions  upon  millions  of  voices  have 
acclaimed  the  holy  name  of  France,  that  none  may 
doubt  how  much  we  respect  the  love,  the  veneration 
which  America  has  for  that  great  moral  country  which 
is  called  the  French  nation.  Yes,  we  shall  tell  them 
that  and  more. 

Finally  let  me  say — and  it  is  with  difficulty  that  I 
find  my  words,  for  I  have  nearly  come  to  the  limit  of 
human  effort — ^let  me  merely  say  that  we  over  there 


158  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

are  unanimous,  that  we  have  no  division,  no  classes, 
no  differences  of  religion  or  of  opinion.  All  together 
we  fight  for  the  same  flag,  ready  to  die  if  need  be,  but 
above  all  always  ready  to  save  France. 

I  cannot  do  better  in  order  to  symbolize  this  union 
of  the  French  and  American  people  than  to  appear 
before  you  side  by  side  with  Marshal  Joffre.  It  is 
indeed  pleasing  to  me  in  this  by  no  means  foreign 
land,  in  this  friendly  land  bound  by  so  many  ties  to 
France,  to  thank  the  French  army  for  the  heroic 
manner  it  has  fought,  for  the  great  deeds  it  has  done. 
That  army  at  the  outset  of  the  war  had  to  give  way 
materially  before  the  most  formidable  onslaught  that 
the  history  of  man  has  ever  recorded,  but  came  back 
and  hurled  itself  upon  the  invader.  Yes,  they  threw 
themselves  into  the  fray,  those  youths  in  their  teens, 
their  eyes  aflame  and  their  hearts,  going  into  battle, 
going  to  death,  but  going  for  the  country,  for  civiliza- 
tion, for  mankind. 

And  who  led  them — who  with  clear  eye  and  cool 
head,  calm,  confident,  and  efficient,  organized  the  re- 
sistance to  the  enemy  ?  I  need  not  tell  you  his  name. 
I  need  but  to  recall  the  Marne.  And  at  the  same  time 
our  sailors  on  the  ocean,  like  Admiral  de  Grasse,  who 
came  with  Rochambeau,  revered,  as  you  know,  in  the 
name  of  France.  Our  sailors  by  night  and  by  day 
alert,  silent  and  watchful — our  sailors  who  after  being 
sent  to  fight  in  the  trenches  of  Ypres — fought  again 
on  the  waters  of  the  Adriatic  under  the  orders  of  the 
brave  officer  who  is  standing  at  my  right.  Admiral 
Chocheprat. 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  159 

Our  army  is  our  nation  in  arms.  It  is  democracy 
in  arms  for  its  honor  and  independence.  You  wiU 
say — ^you  also — that  you  have  seen  that  wonderful 
sight  of  democracy  which  has  known  how  to  organize 
its  forces,  how  to  marshal  its  strength.  A  democracy 
which  has  not  awaited  the  hour  of  danger,  which,  like 
our  own,  had  its  army,  its  leaders,  its  chiefs,  and 
which,  thanks  to  what  it  had  done,  was  able  to  hold 
its  own. 

As  I  was  on  my  way  here  I  heard  the  crowd  ac- 
claiming those  who  accompanied  me,  and  who  wear 
the  uniform  like  Marshal  Joffre,  as  the  saviors  of  the 
world.  Yes,  the  soldiers  of  the  Marne  are  the  saviors 
of  the  world.  But  if  we  had  not  had  conscription,  if 
there  had  not  been  the  men  to  answer  the  call  of 
mobilization,  what  would  have  befallen  our  country 
by  its  courage,  its  enthusiasm,  its  valor?  There  citi- 
zens, you  have  that  great  and  grave  legend  taught 
by  the  war. 

I  have  already  said  and  I  repeat  it,  I  am  not  mis- 
informed. This  has  all  been  understood.  So  long 
as  there  is  in  the  world  a  warlike  Germany,  so  long 
as  there  is  a  nation  of  prey,  a  country  bent  on  oppres- 
sion, on  treachery  and  violence,  so  long  will  democ- 
racies be  imperiled.  If  they  would  save  the  treasures 
of  civilization  and  the  heritage  of  mankind  which  are 
theirs  they  must  meet  the  danger,  they  must  be  ready, 
they  must  arm  themselves,  but  with  the  purpose  never 
to  place  the  sword  at  the  service  of  aught  but  the 
right. 


160  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Long  and  continuous  was  the  applause  that  followed 
M.  Viviani  when  he  had  closed  his  speech.  When  it  died 
away,  Mayor  Mitchel  said:  "Gentlemen,  I  now  present  to 
you  the  great  Marshal  of  France,  who  stopped  them  at  the 
Marne/'  Silk  hats  went  into  the  air  again,  the  cheering 
resounding  with  deafening  force.  Marshal  Joffre  had 
stood  through  all  the  previous  ceremonies  in  Olympian 
serenity;  nothing  about  him  moved  except  his  eyes,  rest- 
lessly flashing  this  way  and  that  under  jutting  gray  eye- 
brows. With  his  calm  still  unruffled,  he  saluted  the  audi- 
ence. Not  content  with  salutes,  they  cheered  continuously, 
louder  and  louder,  until  he  suddenly  broke  into  a  childlike 
smile  of  amazing  sweetness  and  kissed  his  hand  to  every 
part  of  the  room. 

There  was  a  sort  of  informal  reception  after  that,  with 
everybody  pressing  forward  to  shake  hands  with  the  Com- 
missioners, who  afterward  made  a  brief  tour  of  the  City 
Hall,  and  then  passed  out  between  double  lines  of  saluting 
swords  to  the  automobiles  in  waiting,  where  the  crowd  still 
lingered,  massed  about  the  Park,  clinging  to  the  roofs  of 
street  cars,  and  blocking  every  window  in  the  skyscraper 
walls.  Bands  again  burst  into  the  "Marseillaise"  and  chil- 
dren began  to  sing  it,  as  the  long  line  of  automobiles  were 
slowly  filled  and  driven  out  of  the  eastern  end  of  the  park, 
to  begin  the  long  journey  northward  to  the  Henry  C.  Frick 
mansion,  passing  on  the  way  the  Lafayette  Statue  in 
Union  Square,  which  had  been  provided  with  an  elaborate 
setting  of  evergreen  hedge,  colored  columns  and  flags  of 
France  and  the  United  States.  When  all  the  automobiles 
had  passed  on,  artillerymen  in  khaki  followed;  then  the 
Old  Guard,  and  last  of  all  the  schoolgirls,  marching  by 
fours  with  the  precision  of  veterans. 

When  the  police  lines  had  been  broken  up  and  the  usual 
evening  crowd   were   once   more   passing  back   and   forth 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  161 

across  the  Park,  the  Mayor's  bodyguard  found  himself  in 
possession  of  an  unexpected  souvenir — Marshal  Joffre's 
blue-gray  cloak,  which  the  Marshal  had  laid  aside  on  en- 
tering the  Governor's  room  and  had  forgotten  to  put  on 
before  he  went  away.  Other  French  officials  had  forgotten 
it,  too,  and  although  the  officer  rushed  down  the  City  Hall 
steps  with  the  cloak  over  his  arm,  he  found  that  the  Marshal 
had  long  since  gone.  The  cloak  was  afterwards  sent  to 
the  Frick  mansion. 

IN  CENTRAL  PARK  AND  IN  BROOKLYN" 

The  next  day's  activities  began  early.  At  the  Frick  man- 
sion, where  Marshal  Joffre  received  an  immense  bouquet  of 
American  Beauty  roses  from  children,  one  of  them,  attired 
in  the  uniform  of  a  private  soldier  of  France,  so  took  the 
Marshal's  fancy  that  he  lifted  the  child  and  kissed  it.  Among 
the  children  were  Priscilla  Choate,  Marion  Choate  and  Joseph 
H.  Choate,  3rd,  grandchildren  of  Joseph  H.  Choate.  At  that 
time  the  first  Motor  Battery,  N.  G.  N.  Y.,  stood  on  guard 
in  Fifth  Avenue,  opposite  the  house,  its  equipment  three 
armored  motor  cars  and  eighty-two  motorcycles,  besides 
which  soldier  riders  stood  at  attention.  Fifth  Avenue  was 
only  comfortably  filled  with  spectators  because  almost 
every  one  in  the  neighborhood  had  hurried  to  the  North 
Meadow  in  Central  Park,  where  20,000  school  children  in 
white  blouses  and  tricolor  sashes  had  gathered  for  the 
presentation  to  Marshal  Joffre  of  a  miniature  in  solid  gold 
of  the  Statue  of  Liberty  on  a  silver  base,  purchased  with 
money  raised  by  popular  subscription  through  the  efforts 
of  the  New  York  World.  The  presentation  was  made  in  a 
handsomely  decorated  pavilion,  where  fifty  thousand  or 
more  persons  stood  in  the  meadow,  or  on  the  rocky  slopes 
that  enclose  it.     It  was  9:45  when  the  motor  cars  of  the 


162  BALFOUR,  VIYIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

visitors  and  escorting  city  officials  turned  from  the  East 
Drive  of  the  Park  into  a  rope-lined  lane  leading  across 
the  meadow  to   the  pavilion. 

After  the  party  had  alighted  at  the  pavilion,  Mayor 
Mitchel  made  a  brief  speech,  in  which  he  referred  to  the  debt 
which  this  country  owed  to  the  man  who  "at  the  battle  of 
the  Marne  stayed  the  rising  tide  of  absolutism  and  saved 
for  the  world  the  cause  of  popular  self-government." 
Charles  M.  Lincoln,  managing  editor  of  the  World,  made 
a  brief  speech  of  presentation,  and  Master  Rousseau,  son 
of  the  Mayor's  secretary,  pulled  aside  the  flag  that  con- 
cealed the  miniature  statue  just  before  a  little  girl,  arrayed 
in  a  red  and  white  Zouave  uniform,  shouted  in  a  finy 
voice:  "Vive  La  France!"  Marshal  Joffre  raised  the  child 
in  his  arms  and  kissed  her  on  both  cheeks,  then  turned 
toward  the  Mayor  and  Mr.  Lincoln  and  replied  with  his 
first  formal  speech  in  New  York: 

I  am  profoundly  touched  by  the  remarkable 
souvenir  which,  with  such  delicate  attention,  you  offer 
me.  I  am  profoundly  touched  above  all,  when  I  con- 
template the  value  of  this  emblem  as  coming  to  me 
from  the  common  people  of  America,  from  the  people 
as  a  whole,  and  I  thank  you  from  the  bottom  of  my 
heart,  and  I  ask  you  to  thank  the  people  for  this  gift, 
which  I  shall  keep  all  my  life,  which  I  shall  carry  to 
my  home,  which  I  shall  have  under  my  eyes  every  day 
to  remind  me  of  my  love  of  America  and  of  what 
America  has  done  for  France.  I  shall  treasure  it  for 
what  it  stands  for  and  for  what  it  means  to  us. 

The  cheers  that  greeted  the  Marshal's  words  ended  only 
when   the   school  children  burst  into   the  "Star-Spangled 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  163 

Banner."  At  the  conclusion  of  the  song,  during  the  sing- 
ing of  which  the  visitors  stood  at  attention,  the  assembled 
party  hurried  to  their  motor  cars  and  the  crowds  to  vantage 
points  from  which  to  catch  a  last  glimpse  of  the  Marshal. 
The  journey  back  to  the  Frick  mansion  was  made  through 
crowded  lanes  of  people,  who  filled  the  sidewalks  along 
Fifth  Avenue. 

Other  throngs  were  soon  encountered  in  Fourth, 
Lafayette  and  Canal  Streets,  the  course  by  which  the 
French  visitors  were  to  reach  Manhattan  Bridge;  for 
Brooklyn  was  now  to  have  an  opportunity  of  paying  hom- 
age to  Marshal  Joffre  and  M.  Viviani.  Brooklyn  offered 
a  tribute  that  would  have  exceeded  the  welcome  accorded 
the  day  before  by  Manhattan,  had  that  been  possible.  From 
the  moment  when  the  motor  cars  bearing  the  French  vis- 
itors glided  off  the  bridge,  they  proceeded  through  closely 
banked  crowds  of  men  and  women,  of  girls  garbed  in  white, 
and  of  boys  waving  American  and  French  flags.  All  along 
the  route  to  the  Ninth  Street  entrance  to  Prospect  Park, 
where  Marshal  Joffre  was  to  unveil  a  statue  of  Lafayette, 
and  back  to  the  bridge  afterward,  the  motor  cars  never 
escaped  dense  throngs  of  shouting  admirers.  Only  when 
they  entered  upon  the  bridge,  from  which  the,  police  had 
barred  spectators,  had  the  crowd  ceased. 

On  the  Brooklyn  side  of  the  bridge  school  children  lined 
the  plaza  several  deep,  each  waving  a  flag.  The  crowds 
were  denser  than  in  Manhattan.  School  children  lined 
every  thoroughfare.  In  Sackett  Street  young  women  of 
Adelphi  Academy  in  caps  and  gowns  stood  at  the  curb  and 
cheered.  In  Plaza  Street,  extending  along  the  park,  school 
children  were  stationed  on  a  grassy  slope  where  they  waved 
colored  handkerchiefs  so  apportioned  as  to  form  an  ani- 
mated flag  of  France.  Standing  two  rows  deep  were  the 
Fourteenth  Infantry  and  Thirteenth  Coast  Defense  Com- 


164  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

mand,  their  lines  extending  all  the  way  from  the  beginning 
of  the  park  to  the  Ninth  Street  entrance,  where  the  cere- 
monies about  the  statue  were  held.  Along  this  whole  dis- 
tance Marshal  Joffre  stood  with  his  hand  to  his  red  and 
gold  cap  at  salute,  the  soldiers  standing  with  arms  pre- 
sented. The  crowds  were  so  dense  that  time  and  again 
they  threatened  to  break  through  the  police  lines  and  re- 
serves had  to  be  summoned  to  cheek  them.  When  Marshal 
Joffre  tore  off  the  pennant  that  veiled  the  monument  of 
Lafayette,  August  Bouilliez,  of  the  Theatre  de  la  Monnaie 
in  Brussels,  sang  the  "Marseillaise."  Mayor  Mitchel  for- 
mally accepted  the  gift  on  behalf  of  the  city.  A  brief 
dedication  addi-ess  was  made  by  M.  Viviani,  who  said : 

It  is  impossible  to  convey  in  words  the  appreciation 
which  is  overflowing  in  my  heart  for  this  reception 
and  tribute  to  France.  "We  find  in  America  hearts 
that  vibrate  as  one  with  untold  sympathy  for  France 
which  was  inspired  by  our  countryman  Lafayette. 
Lafayette  not  only  performed  a  great  duty  for  Amer- 
ica, but  also  for  France,  since  he  has  endeared  America 
to  France  in  this  hour  when  France  stands  in  need 
of  help. 

After  Mme.  Louise  Homer,  of  the  Metropolitan  Opera 
House,  had  sung  the  "Star-Spangled  Banner,"  Borough 
President  Pounds  made  a  presentation  of  gifts.  M.  Vivi- 
ani accepted  a  purse  on  behalf  of  French  war  orphans  and 
for  himself  said  he  would  place  a  loving  cup  that  he  had 
received  among  the  few  real  treasures  of  his  library, 

AT  LUNCHEON  AT  THE  HOTEL  ASTOB 

When  the  Marshal  and  M.  Viviani  reached  the  Hotel 
Aster,  at  1:30  o'clock,  to  attend  a  luncheon  of  the  Mer- 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  165 

chants'  Association,  the  speedometer  on  the  car  showed 
that  they  had  traversed  more  than  thirty  miles  of  city 
streets  and  park  roadways  since  leaving  the  Frick  home 
that  morning.  All  this  time,  save  on  the  bridge,  they  had 
traveled  between  admiring  throngs  of  spectators.  At  the 
moment  when  Marshal  Joffre  and  M.  Viviani  were  entering 
the  hotel  a  woman  with  a  three-year-old  boy  in  her  arms 
crowded  to  the  front.  A  policeman  tried  gently  to  push  her 
into  the  crowd,  but  she  persisted  till  the  officer  took  her 
by  the  shoulders,  shook  her,  and  forced  her  back.  Marshal 
Joffre  and  M.  Viviani  arrived  just  in  time  to  see  the  inci- 
dent. The  Marshal  halted  and  saluted  the  boy  and  M. 
Viviani  smiled  and  spoke  to  him  in  a  kindly  tone. 

At  the  Hotel  Astor  guarantees  of  a  permanent  peace  and 
some  form  of  world  arbitration  were  demanded  by  M. 
Viviani  in  an  impassioned  speech.  He  declared  that  there 
could  be  no  peace  so  long  as  Germany  clung  to  the  idea 
that  might  makes  right.  He  declared  also  that  France 
must  recover  Alsace-Lorraine.  The  cheers  from  the  crowd 
that  leaped  to  its  feet  in  greeting  this  statement  showed  that 
every  one  was  heartily  in  sympathy  with  the  demand  for 
restoration. 

That  the  assemblage  was  in  no  temporizing  mood  was 
shown  by  its  enthusiastic  reception  of  Joseph  H.  Choate's 
warning  against  "the  meretricious  overtures  for  a  German 
peace  which  is  no  peace,"  and  of  his  appeal  to  the  Govern- 
ment at  Washington,  "For  God's  sake,  hurry  up!"  The 
last  phrase  drew  longer  continued  and  more  vigorous  ap- 
plause  than  any  other  feature  of  the  entire  luncheon  except 
the  short  speech — a  very  short  speech — which  was  drawn 
from  Marshal  Joffre  by  the  steady  and  thunderous  cheers 
which  followed  his  presentation.  The  Marshal  rose  reluc- 
tantly, with  evident  emotion,  and  spoke  a  few  sentences  in 
his  own  language  so  softly  that  not  many  could  hear  them. 


166  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

The  assemblage  was  seated  in  the  grand  ball  room,  and 
the  side  chambers  opening  into  it,  and  numbered  nearly 
2,000 — the  fortunate  first  comers  of  more  than  10,000  ap- 
plicants for  tickets.  Five  hundred  more  sat  in  the  gal- 
leries. Everywhere  the  American  flag  was  the  dominant 
feature  of  the  decorations — indeed,  the  only  feature,  except 
above  the  Chairman  and  the  guests  of  honor  were  seen 
the  orange,  white,  and  blue  of  the  city  draped  on  the  wall 
and  above  it  an  American  flag  flanked  by  the  French  tri- 
color and  the  British  merchant  marine  ensign.  After  the 
luncheon  had  been  eaten  Mr.  Choate  rose  and  made  an 
introductory  speech.  James  M.  Beck,  author  of  a  nota- 
ble war  book,  "The  Evidence  in  the  Case,"  also  spoke.  The 
speech  of  M.  Viviani  was  as  follows: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen :  When  Mr.  Beck  began  his 
admirable  speech  he  spoke  to  France  from  the  depths 
of  his  heart.  He  was  right  when  he  said  that  we  have 
just  passed  through  never-to-be  forgotten  moments, 
and  because  of  the  emotions  which  have  come  to  us 
in  them,  I  ask  myself,  accustomed  as  I  am  to  popular 
manifestations,  and  used  as  I  am  to  finding  myself 
face  to  face  with  great  assemblies  like  this — I  ask 
myself  where  I  can  find  words  in  which  to  tell  you 
the  undying  gratitude  we  have  for  the  people  of 
New  York;  to  tell  you  how  deeply  we  have  been 
stirred  since  we  had  the  honor  to  arrive  in  this  mag- 
nificent city. 

In  the  wonderful  welcomes  succeeding  each  other 
since  our  arrival,  Mayor  Mitchel  has  pointed  out  to 
us,  one  after  the  other,  yesterday  afternoon  and  this 
morning,  all  the  different  peoples  of  your  community 
who  with  one  accord  have  turned  to  us,  have  turned 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  167 

to  France,  and  by  their  cheers  and  acclamations  have 
welcomed  us  with  shouts  of  hope  and  of  confidence.  I 
cannot  tell  you,  although  yesterday  I  tried  the  best  I 
could  to  tell  you,  how  much  I  was  moved  by  the  mag- 
nificent welcome  we  received,  and  now  in  this  great 
banquet  hall,  too  small,  they  tell  me,  to  bring  together 
all  the  members  of  your  Merchants'  Association,  you 
seem  numberless  to  my  eyes.  I  have  been  thrilled  and 
cheered  standing  here  by  your  shouting  your  loud  ac- 
claim of  France,  cheering  for  France,  cheering  for 
the  war,  because  you  have  understood  that  the  war 
has  now  taken  on  an  aspect  which  no  human  being 
could  possibly  have  foreseen. 

There  have  been  other  wars  before  this,  wars  in 
which  the  armies  were  well  equipped  with  ammuni- 
tion and  supplies  sufficient  to  carry  on  the  struggle 
for  a  few  months,  but  now  we  have  entered  upon  a 
war  where  everything  is  different,  where  weeks  are 
months,  and  months  are  years,  where  the  entire  co- 
ordinated energies  of  the  nation  are  essential  to  its 
successful  prosecution.  Everything  has  been  on  a 
scale  which  no  human  mind  could  foresee,  and  our 
troops  have  been  deluged  with  masses  of  steel  beyond 
the  conception  of  our  minds.  Now  we  have  turned 
to  you  and  you  have  supplied  us  with  munitions,  you 
have  supplied  us  with  your  steel,  you  have  supplied 
us  with  your  money.  I  thank  you,  we  all  thank  you 
for  your  generosity.  We  thank  you  for  what  you  have 
done  for  France.  We  thank  you  for  your  loyalty  to 
France,  and  for  the  amount  of  work  which  you  have 


168  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

done  that  has  enabled  the  armies  of  France  to  keep 
up  the  good  fight. 

"We  are  pleased  to  know,  and  it  is  not  something 
that  we  have  just  learned,  it  is  something  that  we 
have  always  known,  that  America  has  put  all  its  effi- 
ciency, and  all  its  skill,  and  all  its  soul  into  the  great 
work.  But  if  you  in  never-failing  supply  have  fur- 
nished arms  and  munitions  to  our  French  soldiers, 
you  must  know  that  they  have  used  them  well  and 
worthily  and  with  good  faith.  We  French  made  no 
mistake  when  we  weighed  the  character  of  the  Amer- 
ican people.  You  who  are  men  of  business,  men  en- 
gaged in  vast  enterprises,  creators  of  great  industry, 
who  have  welded  together  great  organizations  and  de- 
veloped untold  resources — ^you  can  never  allow  your 
brains,  your  souls,  and  your  hearts  to  fall  to  the  level 
of  comimercialism. 

No,  you  have  kept  your  ancient  traditions;  your 
past  glory  is  ever  present  in  your  hearts,  you  have  love 
and  affection,  and  admiration  for  civilization  and 
humanity.  You  have  an  idealism  which  floats  above 
your  flag,  and  that  idealism  you  place  above  your  ma- 
terial interests.  We  in  France  never  felt  a  moment 
of  anxiety  when  the  croaking  pessimists  told  us  that 
you  were  seeking  a  peaceful  settlement.  We  knew 
that  you  were  working  for  humanity.  You  who  are 
accustomed  to  handling  large  masses  of  men,  to  doing 
things  on  a  vast  scale,  your  vision  could  not  fail  to 
take  in  the  great  issues  at  stake.  We  knew  that 
when  your  day*s  work  is  ended  you  are,  all  of  you, 
ready  to  devote  yourselves  to  those  higher  and  better 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  169 

things  which  make  life  worth  living  and  mankind  an 
admirable  thing. 

And  now,  as  a  Frenchman  coming  to  speak  here 
in  America,  I  must  be  allowed  to  refer  on  behalf  of 
my  compatriots  and  my  friends,  to  something  of  which 
we  are  all  justly  proud.  I  refer  to  what  came  to  some 
perhaps  as  a  revelation.  Ah !  France  before  the  war 
seemed  to  many  to  be  a  country  to  which  people  went 
as  to  Paradise,  in  order  to  seek  happiness  and  enjoy- 
ment. And  too  many  of  them  failed  to  see  that  great 
and  that  real  France,  that  France  of  11,000,000  work- 
ing men,  7,000,000  of  whom  are  agricultural  laborers. 
That  did  not  seem  to  them  to  be  the  real  France,  and 
yet  it  was.  In  this  war  France  has  risen  to  all  occa- 
sions, has  taken  on  all  the  qualities  of  an  industrial 
organized  democracy. 

It  is  not  only  the  valor  of  their  children;  it  is  the 
training  of  her  officers,  the  efficiency  of  her  organiza- 
tion, and  the  coordination  of  her  industry.  In  this 
country  of  France  we  have  seen  men  rising  up  to 
deal  with  each  situation,  to  combat  each  new  menace. 
We  have  found  heads  of  great  industries,  we  have 
found  engineers,  we  have  found  organization,  we  have 
seen  the  whole  genius  of  France  clearly  expressed  in 
its  power  of  organization.  We  have  seen  that  the 
genius  of  France  was  the  industry  of  France;  and 
it  was  the  industry  of  France,  aided  by  the  industry 
of  America,  which  was  able  to  produce  the  shells,  mil- 
lions upon  millions  of  which  have  been  hurled  upon 
the  enemy  to  clear  the  way  when  our  children 
mounted  to  the  assault ;  it  was  the  industry  of  France 


170  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

aided  by  the  industry  of  America  which  produced 
those  things  that  are  as  essential  in  battle  as  human 
lives,  and  France  has  willingly  shed  her  blood  for 
our  common  cause. 

Just  now  your  illustrious  statesman,  Mr.  Choate, 
said  that  the  American  and  the  French  flags  would 
float  together  at  the  front.  As  if  in  realization  of  that 
prediction,  I  read  this  morning  that  there  was  a  great 
and  moving  popular  ceremony  in  Paris  yesterday 
when  the  people  of  France  saw  the  American  ambu- 
lances driving  through  the  streets  of  Paris  flying  the 
Stars  and  Stripes.  I  say  to  you  that  the  joy  of  the 
people  of  France  when  they  cheered  the  American 
flag  was  their  joy  at  the  promise  which  it  stood  for. 
It  is  necessary  that  the  American  flag  shall  be  car- 
ried to  the  firing  line,  shall  float  where  German  shells 
are  falling,  there  in  the  trenches  where  French  and 
English  soldiers  are  now  fighting  together  shoulder  to 
shoulder  to  the  extreme  limit  of  human  endurance. 
And  when  your  flag  flies  there,  it  will  not  be  like  the 
flag  you  now  see  around  you  that  hangs  spotless  in 
regular  folds,  but  I  warn  you  that  alongside  of  the 
stars  it  will  have  holes,  and  among  its  stripes  the 
white  will  be  stained  with  the  blood  of  your  children. 

Yes,  you  will  come  to  us,  pushed  forward  by  the 
irresistible  forces  of  humanity;  and  I  want  to  say  to 
you  that  we  never  doubted  for  one  single  minute  that 
America  would  come  into  this  war.  Do  you  want  to 
know  why  we  were  certain  that  America  would  come 
into  this  war?  It  was  not  because  of  submarines;  it 
was  not  your  dead  in  the  iMsitania;  it  was  in  de- 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  171 

fense  of  your  honor,  the  honor  of  your  traditions,  the 
honor  of  your  free  country.  You  came  into  the  war 
not  only  for  your  national  vindication,  but  for  the 
vindication  of  human  rights,  and  it  is  for  human 
rights  that  you  are  fighting,  for  the  most  sacred  rights 
of  free  men.  You  are  fighting  for  liberty,  you  are 
fighting  for  democracy. 

We  all  agree  with  Mr.  Choate.  He  said,  *' Hurry 
up.  Do  not  lose  time.''  We  understand  his  thought 
and  we  love  him  for  it,  but  we  do  not  say  that.  We 
who  know  what  war  is,  know  how  intense  the  prepara- 
tion must  be,  and  that  no  preparation  can  be  neg- 
lected. 

Mr.  Choate  also  said  that  France  would  never  ac- 
cept German  conditions  of  peace,  and  he  was  right. 
Germany  has  always  thought  that  by  her  heavy  might 
she  could  imprison  the  hearts  and  stunt  the  con- 
sciences of  humanity,  and  so  long  as  that  doctrine  of 
might  prevails  Germany  can  never  offer  us  conditions 
of  peace  that  will  be  acceptable.  We  will  never  make 
peace  until  we  have  that  which  is  ours — ^Alsace  and 
Lorraine. 

We  are  not  fighting  a  selfish  battle.  We  are  not 
fighting  to  triumph  for  ourselves,  we  who  did  not  seek 
this  war.  We  are  fighting  for  civilization  and  for 
democracy  and  for  mankind  and  for  what  is  ours.  At 
first  we  bore  the  brunt  almost  alone.  We  gave  to  all 
the  allies  of  France  a  breathing  space  in  which  to  get 
ready  to  stand  by  our  side,  to  place  their  flags  along- 
side of  ours.  Now  they  are  ready.  Now  you  are  com- 
ing.   Now  all  freemen  in  the  world  are  standing  shouL 


172  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

der  to  shoulder  for  liberty  and  for  justice.  Yes,  and 
so  we  will  stand  till  the  end  of  the  conflict.  We  will 
thwart  the  reign  of  might  in  the  world.  We  will  save 
the  future  generations.  We  will  save  them  by  o\ir 
blood  and  by  our  suffering,  but  future  generations  of 
mankind  will  be  forever  free  from  the  terrible  men« 
ace  of  German  domination. 

AT   COLUMBIA    UNIVERSITY 

After  the  luncheon  the  French  Commission  motored  back 
to  the  Frick  mansion  to  prepare  for  their  trip  to  Columbia 
University,  where  was  to  be  conferred  on  M.  Viviani,  Mar- 
shal Joffre,  Mr.  Balfour  (by  proxy),  and  Lord  Cunliffe, 
Governor  of  the  Bank  of  England,  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Laws,  the  occasion  being,  as  President  Nicholas  Murray  But- 
ler expressed  it,  one  of  the  most  notable  in  Columbia's  his- 
tory. The  exercises  were  held  in  the  open  air  on  the  steps  of 
the  library  facing  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Street,  and 
were  witnessed  by  thousands.  Marshal  Joffre  was  the  figure 
upon  whom  all  eyes  were  focused,  as  Dr.  Butler,  in  con- 
ferring on  him  the  highest  degree  which  the  university  can 
offer,  said  the  recipient  had  made  the  name  of  the  River 
Marne  as  immortal  as  Miltiades  made  that  of  Marathon. 
The  great  throng  wildly  shouted  its  full  approval  of  this 
tribute.  When  M.  Viviani  stood  up  to  receive  his  degree, 
the  crowds  cheered  with  an  enthusiasm  that  was  heard  to 
the  river  banks,  and  again  when  the  tall,  athletic  Lord 
Cunliffe  stepped  forward.  Clive  Bayley,  the  British  Consul 
General  in  New  York,  represented  Mr.  Balfour,  who  was 
to  receive  the  diploma  when  he  arrived  in  New  York  late 
the  same  afternoon. 

It  was  not  until  3:50  o'clock  that  Marshal  Joffre,  M. 
Viviani  and   Lord    Cunliffe   left   the   Frick   mansion   for 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  173 

Columbia  University.  The  route  ran  north  on  Fifth  Avenue 
to  One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Street  and  west  on  that  street 
to  Momingside  Heights,  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Street 
and  the  University.  Every  foot  of  the  way  was  lined  with 
throngs  of  men,  women  and  children.  The  progress  of  the 
party  was  made  amid  long-continued  cheers  from  end  to 
end.  In  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Street  people  were 
packed  so  densely  that  it  was  with  difficulty  the  police 
cleared  a  roadway  big  enough  for  automobiles  to  pass 
through.  In  front  of  the  library  other  thousands  were 
massed.  In  the  plaza  in  front  of  the  Columbia  University 
a  military  battalion  in  khaki  stood  at  attention.  On  the 
steps  in  the  space  reserved  for  distinguished  guests  mem- 
bers of  the  Columbia  faculty  stood  with  heads  bare.  Nearby 
were  some  of  the  best-known  men  of  the  nation,  including 
Charles  Evans  Hughes,  Robert  Bacon,  Major  Gen.  Leonard 
Wood,  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  T.  Manning,  Rector  of  Trinity, 
Brander  Matthews,  Clarence  H.  Mackay,  Herbert  L.  Sat- 
terlee,  John  Bassett  Moore,  Mayor  Mitchel,  Henry  Morgen- 
thau,  George  T.  Wilson,  Joseph  H.  Choate,  Otto  H.  Kahn, 
and  nearly  every  member  of  the  Mayor's  Reception  Com- 
mittee. 

Two  signals  announced  the  coming  of  the  famous  guests. 
One  was  the  Columbia  yell  and  the  other  the  whirring  of 
police  motorcycles  which  speeded  ahead  of  the  column  of  au- 
tomobiles. President  Butler  wore  his  brilliant  Cambridge 
robe  in  honor  of  the  British  and  his  Legion  of  Honor  deco- 
ration in  honor  of  the  French.  Everywhere  flags  of  the 
United  States,  England  and  France  snapped  in  the  half 
gale  that  was  blowing.  On  the  western  edge  of  the  official 
inclosure  a  great  string  of  flags  fluttered.  In  that  cluster 
was  the  flag  of  every  nation  of  the  Entente  Allies.  Every 
person  in  the  throng  rose,  the  men  with  heads  bared,  as 
M.  Viviani,  Marshal  Joffre,   and  Lord   Cunliffe  marched 


174  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

slowly  up  the  crimson  carpeted  steps  from  the  automobiles 
in  which  they  arrived.  Behind  them  came  other  members 
of  the  French  delegation,  Marquis  de  Chambrun,  the  grand- 
son of  Lafayette;  Lieut.  Col.  Fabry,  Chief  of  Staff  of  Mar- 
shal Joffre,  in  blue  uniform  and  wearing  the  cap  of  the 
famous  Alpine  Chasseurs;  Lieutenant  de  Tessan,  Marshal 
Joffre^s  aid,  and  M.  Jusserand,  the  French  Ambassador. 

Marshal  Joffre  and  M.  Viviani  did  not  stop  in  front  of 
the  Alma  Mater  Statue,  but  proceeded  directly  into  the 
library,  accompanied  by  President  Butler  and  William  Bar- 
clay Parsons,  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Colum- 
bia. Later  it  was  learned  that  they  had  gone  into  an  inner 
room  to  greet  in  the  name  of  the  French  Republic  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  Jay  Chapman,  the  parents  of  Sergeant  Victor 
E.  Chapman,  the  young  American  aviator  who  was  killed 
in  action  at  Verdun  in  June,  1916.  He  was  one  of  the 
famous  fliers  of  the  American  section  fighting  with  the 
French   on  the  western  front. 

In  a  few  moments  the  distinguished  Frenchmen  reap- 
peared and  took  seats  on  the  right  of  President  Butler. 
Ambassador  Jusserand  sat  next  to  Marshal  Joffre  and 
translated  for  him  the  more  telling  parts  of  President 
Butler's  address.  The  chair  in  front  of  the  statue,  occu- 
pied by  President  Butler,  was  a  famous  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin chair,  one  of  Columbia's  most  precious  relics,  a  fact 
made  known  to  the  visitors  and  occasioning  interest  among 
them.*  William  Barclay  Parsons,  wearing  his  uniform  as  a 
Major  of  United  States  Engineers — Mr.  Barclay  having 
been  called  into  the  Federal  service  a  few  days  before — 
introduced  President  Butler,  who  conferred  the  degrees 
with  the  following  formulae: 

*The  New  York  Times. 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  175 

Rene  Viviani — formerly  President  of  the  Council 
of  Ministers  of  the  French  Republic,  now  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  Council  and  Minister  of  Justice,  eminent 
as  advocate,  as  parliamentarian,  as  orator,  and  as 
statesman,  we  greet  in  you  the  lofty  spirit  and  serene 
determination  of  the  French  people,  bound  to  us  by 
ties  that  reach  back  to  our  nation's  cradle  and  that 
nothing  can  ever  weaken  or  break. 

Joseph  Jacques  Cesaire  Joffre — Marshal  of 
France,  who,  by  reason  of  character,  courage,  and 
superb  strategic  skill,  has  made  the  name  of  the  River 
Marne  as  immortal  as  Miltiades  made  that  of  Mara- 
thon, and  in  so  doing  saved  the  world  for  democracy. 

The  Right  Hon.  Walter,  First  Baron  Cunliffe  of 
Headley — Governor  of  the  Bank  of  England,  which 
for  two  and  a  quarter  centuries  has  maintained  so 
high  a  repute  for  good  faith,  for  probity,  for  business 
sagacity,  and  for  prowess,  that  through  its  support 
of  the  public  debt  and  of  the  commerce,  the  industry, 
and  the  shipping  of  the  British  Empire  it  has  made 
London  the  central  market  place  of  the  world  and 
the  bank  itself  a  fortress  beneficent  in  time  of  peace 
and  impregnable  in  time  of  war. 

Mr.  Consul  General,  to  the  Right  Hon.  Arthur 
James  Balfour,  whom  you  to-day  represent.  His  Maj- 
esty's Principal  Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign  Af- 
fairs, crowned  with  every  honor  that  the  public  life 
and  the  universities  of  Great  Britain  can  confer,  dis- 
tinguished alike  in  philosophy,  in  letters,  and  in  states- 
manship, coming  to  us  as  representative  of  what  must 
always  remain  to  us  the  mother  country,  and  speak- 


176  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

ing  its  words  of  confidence  and  regard  for  the  great- 
est of  her  children,  is  gladly  granted  in  absentia  the 
highest  honor  which  this  university  can  offer. 

After  the  degrees  were  conferred  M.  Viviani  made  a 
brief  speech.  He  had  intended  to  deliver  an  oration  of 
considerable  length,  but  owing  to  the  cold  weather  and  the 
danger  of  impairing  his  voice,  was  compelled  to  speak 
briefly.  Following  is  what  he  said,  the  original  French 
being  given,  as  readers  may  like  to  have  a  specimen  of 
the  famous  orator^s  speeches  in  the  language  in  which  it 
was   delivered: 

Mesdames,  Messieurs, 

M.  le  President  de  I'Universite  vous  a  prevenus 
que  je  ne  pourrai  vous  addresser  que  quelques  mots; 
vous  VsLYiez  deja  compris,  car,  sous  ce  ciel,  au  milieu 
de  cette  immense  assistance,  il  est  impossible  a  un 
orateur  de  faire  parvenir  toute  sa  pensee.  Mais  je 
manquerais  de  gratitude  si  je  ne  profitais  de  I'occasion 
qui  m'est  offerte  pour  remercier  M.  le  President  de 
rUniversite  que  j'ai  eu  deja  I'honneur,  il  y  a  que- 
ques  annees,  de  voir  a  Paris ;  et  je  remercie  egalement 
en  sa  personne  tous  ses  professeurs  illustres  dont  les 
noms  et  1 'instruction  sont  connus  et  qui  ont  ecoute 
la  parole  du  Maitre  et  ses  lecons  de  verite. 

Plus  d  'un  lien  rattachent  la  France  a  1  'Amerique ; 
parmi  ces  liens,  le  lien  universitaire  est  le  plus  fort 
et  les  deux  grandes  universites  americaines  et  fran- 
caises  ont  toujours  ete  d 'accord  pour  reconnaitre  que 
I'universite  doit  distribuer  a  la  fois  1 'instruction  qui 
donne    I'elevation    intellectuelle    et   I'education    qui 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  177 

donne  Televation  morale.  Vous  avez  tous  compris, 
vous  qui  m'entendez,  qu'il  ne  sufiit  pas  d'etudier  la 
beaute  litteraire,  la  grandeur  philosophique,  que  cela 
n'est  rien:  il  faut,  avant  tout,  former  des  hommes 
de  confiance  et  de  caractere.  Nous  I'avons  bien  senti 
nous-memes,  aux  heures  tragiques,  lorsque  nous  avons 
vu  se  lever  tous  les  enfants  de  France,  dequis  ceux 
qui  n'avaient  regu  qu'une  instruction  primaire 
jusqu  'a  ceux  qui  avaient  atteint  les  degres  superieurs, 
tous,  simples  enfants  du  peuple,  etudiants  de  la  veille, 
se  sont  dresses  sous  le  drapeau  francais  pour  lutter 
centre  Tenvaliisseur.  Et  vous-meme,  M.  le  President, 
vous-memes,  Messieurs,  vous  avez  compris  qu'aux 
heures  tragiques  que  nous  traversons  en  commun,  il 
fallait  faire  de  cette  Universite  le  centre  du  patri- 
otisme.  Vous  avez  etabli  un  hopital,  eleve  des  jeunes 
hommes  qui  seront  demain  des  officiers  capables  de 
conduire  votre  armee,  et  vous  avez  montre  de  quoi 
vous  etiez  capables. 

Mais  ce  n'est  pas  seulement  un  hommage  que  je 
dois  vous  rendre;  il  m'appartient  encore,  a  moi 
frangais,  de  vous  dire:  Ou  pourriezvous  mieux  en- 
voy er  vos  etudiants  si  ce  n'est  sur  cette  terre  de 
France  au  lieu  de  les  envoyer  sur  cette  terre 
d'Allemagne?  Vous  savez  ce  que  sont  devenus  les 
hommes  nourris  de  la  culture  allemande;  et  c'est  au 
nom  de  cette  culture  qu'on  a  vu  declarer  par  ceux 
qui  I'avaient  recue  que  la  signature  allemande  devait 
etre  dechiree  comme  un  chiffon  de  papier.  Venez 
chez  un  peuple  libre  ou  vous  trouverez  en  litterature, 
poesie  et  science  des  maitres  egaux  aux  votres  et  qui 


178  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

pourront  completer  I'mstruction  de  vos  enfants. 
Apres  la  victoire  gagnee  en  commun  par  de  communs 
efforts,  je  vous  demande,  M.  le  President,  d'echanger 
nos  enfants,  de  faire  visiter  I'Amerique  par  nos 
etudiants  et  la  France  par  les  votres.  Et  laissezmoi 
vous  dire  que,  de  retour  en  France,  je  serai  I'un  des 
artisans  les  plus  convaincus  de  la  grande  oeuvre  de 
penetration  commune.  J 'en  fais  le  serment  devant 
la  statue  de  I'Alma  Mater,  la  grande  Mere  Eternelle 
qui  forme  les  cerveaux  et  les  consciences  et  devant 
laquelle  j'ai  recu  ce  titre  qui  restera  I'honneur  de 
ma  vie  et  auquel  se  rattache  un  souvenir  qui  ne  perira 
qu'avec  moi-meme. 

As  each  degree  was  conferred  Columbia  students  gave 
their  long  yell,  ending  it  each  time  with  the  name  of  the 
recipient.  Two-thirds  of  the  crowd  joined  the  students  in 
shouting  "Joffre"  as  the  Marshal  stood  up  to  receive  his 
degree.  Brander  Matthews  presented  the  hoods  to  M. 
Viviani  and  to  Marshal  Joffre  while  John  Bassett  Moore 
gave  hoods  to  Lord  Cunliffe  and  Mr.  Bayley,  representing 
Mr.  Balfour.  M.  Viviani  and  Lord  Cunliffe  put  on  their 
gowns,  but  Marshal  Joffre  being  in  his  military  dress,  did 
not,  since  the  greater  distinction  was  not  to  be  obscured  by 
the  lesser.  The  exercises  were  brought  to  an  end  by  the 
singing  of  "America."  The  crowd  remained  standing  while 
the  visitors  proceeded  to  their  automobiles,  the  cheering  be- 
ing continuous  until  the  last  car  was  out  of  sight.  The 
last  that  Columbia  saw  of  the  visitors  was  when  Colonel 
Fabry  rose  in  his  car,  looked  back  and  waved  a  last  fare- 
well to  thousands  who  jammed  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth 
Street. 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  179 

AT  grant's  tomb  AND  AT  THE  STATUE  OF  JOAN  OF  ARC 

After  tliis  ceremony  Marshal  Joffre  went  directly  to 
Grant^s  Tomb,  accompanied  by  M.  Viviani  and  other  mem- 
bers of  the  Commission.  Descending  alone  into  the  crypt 
he  climbed  a  stepladder  that  had  been  hurriedly  requisi- 
tioned as  a  means  by  which  he  might  reach  the  top  of  the 
sarcophagus,  in  which  rest  the  remains  of  the  Union  com- 
mander. There  he  deposited  a  wreath  of  laurel,  held  to- 
gether by  the  colors  of  France  and  America.  Above  at 
the  circular  stone  rail  with  bared  heads  stood  the  other 
members  of  the  Commission,  Mayor  Mitchel,  General  Daniel 
Appleton,  General  Leonard  Wood,  and  a  few  others.  The 
police  estimated  that  at  least  25,000  people  had  gathered 
outside  the  Tomb.  It  was  an  impressive  scene  when  the 
French  soldier  below  in  the  darkened  crypt,  at  the  top 
of  the  ladder,  paid  this  tribute  to  the  great  soldier  of 
another  era  and  of  another  war  for  human  liberty.  After 
he  had  arranged  the  wreath,  he  stepped  back  and  stood 
at  attention,  his  hand  at  salute,  uttered  a  few  words  in 
French,  so  low  that  they  were  inaudible  in  that  stillness 
even  to  those  above  him.  After  a  brief  inspection 
of  the  battle  flags,  Marshal  Joffre  reappeared  on  the  floor 
above. 

From  Grant^s  Tomb  the  visitors  went  to  the  Joan  of  Arc 
statue  at  Riverside  Drive  and  Ninety-third  Street.  Here 
they  were  met  by  a  delegation  representing  the  Daughters 
of  the  American  Revolution,  who  presented  Marshal  Joffre 
with  a  check  fo^;  38,000  francs,  to  be  used  in  any  way  he 
saw  fit  for  the  relief  of  suffering  in  France.  Marshal  Joffre 
placed  a  wreath  of  laurel  at  the  base  of  the  monument,  the 
crowd  meanwhile  silent,  and  men  and  boys  baring  their 
heads.  The  ceremony  was  as  brief  as  it  was  impressive,  and 
was  over  in  less  than  five  minutes.    The  party  then  went 


180  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

through    Seventy-ninth    Street    and    Central    Park   to   the 
Frick  mansion  to  prepare  for  the  events  of  the  evening. 

AT  THE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  AND  THE  METROPOLITAN  OPERA 
HOUSE 

At  10 :30  Marshal  Joffre  stood  in  the  great  reading  room 
of  the  Public  Library  where  clerks  give  out  books  as  taken 
off  the  dumbwaiter,  and  made  the  third  of  his  four  brief 
speeches  of  the  day  to  a  pushing  crowd  that  almost  over- 
whelmed him,  despite  the  moderating  influence  of  a  large 
body  of  policemen.  He  had  stopped  there  for  a  few  min- 
utes only  while  on  his  way  to  the  Metropolitan  Opera 
House,  where  Governor  Whitman  was  to  present  him  to 
an  audience  at  a  gala  performance.  M.  Viviani,  wearied 
by  the  day's  continuous  performance,  had  found  himself 
too  exhausted  to  remain  to  the  end  of  the  ceremonies.  There 
were  many  thousands  outside  the  library  all  through  the 
evening,  their  interest  held  by  the  lights  and  decorations 
and  by  an  eagerness  to  catch  some  further  sight  of  Marshal 
Joffre. 

The  decorations  and  lighting  about  the  libraiy  provided 
a  spectacle  that  New  York  had  seldom  if  ever  surpassed. 
A  pillared  court  of  honor  was  built  along  Fifth  Avenue 
from  Fortieth  to  Forty-second  Street ;  its  columns  wreathed 
with  evergreens  and  surmounted  by  urns,  with  American 
eagles  at  each  column  besides  symbolic  medallions,  and  the 
draped  flags  of  twelve  allies.  From  the  marble  balustrade 
in  front  of  the  library  terrace  three  tall  poles  were  raised 
on  either  side  of  the  entrance,  and  from  their  crossbars  hung 
long  banners  bearing  devices  of  the  American  eagle,  the 
British  lion  and  the  Gallic  cock.  Hundreds  of  Chinese  lan- 
terns glowed  along  the  terrace  and  the  white  f  agade.  There 
were  lights  beneath  each  window,  shining  brightly  on  navy 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  181 

recruiting  posters  pasted  on  the  panes.  There  were  lights 
hidden  behind  the  cornices,  lights  everywhere  along  the 
deeply  indented  walls.  The  twin  fountains  by  the  side  of 
the  great  entrance  were  also  illuminated,  the  water  splash- 
ing in  a  constant  sparkle  of  light.  The  handling  of  im- 
mense crowds  along  the  avenue  and  in  every  cross  street  by 
policemen  was  in  notable  contrast  to  confusion  inside.* 

When  Marshal  Joffre,  with  Governor  Whitman,  after- 
ward stepped  into  a  box  fronting  the  stage  at  the  Metro- 
politan Opera  House,  the  great  audience  rose  to  its  feet, 
forgetting  that  Paderewski  was  playing  a  masterpiece. 
With  a  wide  sweep  of  his  right  hand  the  Marshal  saluted, 
as  the  audience  cheered  and  sang  the  "Marseillaise."  He 
then  made  a  brief  speech: 

Ladies  and  gentlemen:  I  am  deeply  grateful  for 
all  the  greetings,  for  all  the  smiles,  and  for  all  the 
cheers  that  you  have  manifested  here  to-night;  but  I 
must  take  them  not  as  an  expression  to  me  personally, 
but  as  a  tribute  from  you  to  the  fighting  army  in 
France.  If  the  soldiers  of  my  beloved  country  could 
know  of  this  great  spontaneous  outburst  of  affection 
and  patriotism  on  the  part  of  the  people  of  this  great 
city,  they  would  receive  new  inspiration  and  stimula- 
tion. Their  hearts  would  be  deeply  stirred,  as  mine 
has  been  to-night  by  this  overwhelming  evidence  of 
your  support.  This  is  the  greatest  demonstration  I 
have  ever  seen.  I  am  not  an  orator,  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen, and  I  cannot  say  more  than  that  I  am  pro- 
foundly touched  by  this  magnificent  demonstration. 
I  shall  carry  the  memory  of  it  back  to  the  soldiers 

*The  New  York  Times. 


182  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

of  France.     I  say  now  and  again,  ''Long  live  the 
United  States!     Long  live  the  City  of  New  York!'' 

Marshal  Joffre  remained  in  the  box  while  the  Metropoli- 
tan chorus  continued  the  "Marseillaise"  and  sang  "God 
Save  the  King,"  and  Mme.  Homer  sang  "The  Star- 
Spangled  Banner."  It  was  one  of  the  most  inspiring  scenes 
the  Opera  House  had  ever  witnessed.  When  Mme  Homer, 
after  singing  the  first  verse  of  the  national  anthem,  stepped 
to  the  front  of  the  stage  and  waved  the  flag,  the  tremendous 
audience  joined  in  with  a  demonstration  that  made  Marshal 
Joffre  almost  drop  his  cap  while  he  was  applauding.  When 
the  song  was  finished,  the  audience  by  a  common  impulse 
turned  to  look  at  the  distinguished  guest  who  saluted  and 
applauded  again.  With  his  military  aide  he  went  away 
thirty  minutes  later.  The  affair  had  been  arranged  by  the 
Marshal  Joffre  Committee;  the  receipts,  which  exceeded 
$86,000,  being  turned  over  to  him  for  the  French  war  or- 
phans. When  he  and  Governor  Whitman  left  their  box, 
they  went  quickly  to  the  Fortieth  Street  exit,  where  Squad- 
ron A  was  drawn  up  with  swords  at  salute.  Only  the  best 
efforts  of  the  police  and  of  Squadron  A  could  keep  back 
the  enormous  crowd  and  secure  the  Marshal's  passage. 
Former  Governor  Hughes  and  Mrs.  Hughes  had  sat  in  the 
box  with  Marshal  Joffre.  Seats  for  this  entertainment 
had  sold  for  from  $3  for  the  upper  gallery  to  $25  for  orches- 
tra seats,  boxes  selling  for  $1,000  each. 

M.  VIVIANI  AT  A  BAR  ASSOCIATION  LUNCHEON 

Appearing  as  the  first  lawyer  of  France  before  the  law- 
yers of  New  York,  M.  Viviani,  while  Marshal  Joffre  was 
at  West  Point  on  May  11,  spoke  at  a  luncheon  at  the  Bilt- 
inore  given  by  the  Bar  Association.     He  said  he  felt  at 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  183 

home  among  900  lawyers,  and  talked  as  if  he  did,  his  efforts 
unrestrained,  his  gestures  profuse,  and  at  all  times  eloquent. 
A  half  dozen  times  he  swept  his  auditors  to  their  feet  in 
wild  cheers.  George  W.  Wiekersham  presided.  Charles 
Evan  Hughes  also  spoke  and  brought  the  audience  to  its 
feet  three  times  in  applause  led  by  M.  Viviani.  Following 
is  M.  Viviani's  speech: 

My  dear  brethren :  It  seems  to  me  that  something 
would  have  been  lacking  in  my  life,  in  my  career, 
if  in  passing  through  this  great  city  of  New  York, 
where  nearly  6,000  of  my  brethren  work  and  are  the 
honor  of  the  bar  of  the  United  States,  I  had  not  been 
accorded  the  honor  of  meeting  them  and  shaking 
their  loyal  hands. 

The  Parisian  bar,  as  well  as  those  of  all 
France,  are  peopled  with  young  men  who  had  de- 
voted their  hearts  to  the  future.  Before  them  an 
immense  career  opened.  They  were  satisfied  to  work 
peaceably  in  their  study  for  the  purpose  of  attain- 
ing fortune,  either  great  or  small ;  in  any  case  to  give 
credit  to  their  life.  They  were  quietly  working  there 
in  the  month  of  July,  1914,  and  the  summer,  with 
its  bright,  clear  days,  after  a  year  of  work,  called 
them  to  the  holiday  vacations.  Then  we  heard  the 
tocsin  of  war.  The  first  cannon  shot  resounded.  The 
tragic  hour  in  our  history  was  unveiled.  The  horizon 
became  suddenly  darkened  and  was  zigzagged  by  the 
flashes  of  the  tragic  light,  and  all  these  young  men, 
doffing  the  lawyer's  robe,  seizing  arms,  left  to  join 
the  colors,  to  rejoin  their  regiments. 

And  you  were  right  just  now,  my  dear  comrade, 


184  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

in  rendering  homage  not  only  to  the  lawyers  but  to 
all  those  men  of  the  liberal  professions  who  in  France 
have  joined  the  colors,  in  company  with  peasants  and 
workingmen.  Yes,  it  is  an  admirable  example  of  na- 
tional unity  and  sacred  union  which  glorious  France 
has  offered  to  the  world.  Not  a  man,  whatever  his 
rank,  whether  he  wears  the  apron  of  the  workingman 
or  the  blouse  of  the  peasant,  whether  he  wears  the 
robe  of  the  Magistrate  or  that  of  the  lawyer;  not  a 
man,  whether  rich  or  poor,  failed  in  his  duty.  And 
at  the  same  hour,  on  the  same  day,  all  bowing  their 
heads  to  the  level  of  the  bloody  trenches,  all  together 
forming  the  democratic  army,  the  great  army  of  citi- 
zens all  went  together,  representing  France,  before 
the  enemy. 

But  what  am  I  saying?  It  is  not  true!  I  lessen 
their  role ;  I  lessen  their  mission.  They  did  not  rep- 
resent France  alone.  They  felt  that  they  were  bound 
to  our  national  history  by  more  than  a  tie.  The 
soldiers  of  1914,  indeed,  were  soldiers  in  1914.  They 
defended  the  territory,  the  country  invaded.  That 
they  did.  But  do  you  believe  that  discipline,  that 
the  apprehension  of  danger — do  you  believe  that  the 
orders  given  by  the  leaders  to  the  soldiers  suffice  to 
engender  such  a  heroism?  That  which  caused  the 
army  to  line  up  was  that  it  was  an  army  of  soldiers 
as  well  as  citizens;  it  was  because  in  reviewiag  the 
past  it  saw  a  past  filled  with  glory ;  it  was  because  it 
did  not  wish  to  be  unworthy  of  its  great  ancestors 
who  suffered  and  fought  on  French  soil;  in  a  word, 
this  national  army  knew  that  it  was  defending  the 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  185 

principles  of  justice  and  humanity  to  which  you  have 
rendered  so  just  an  homage.  And  that  is  what,  in 
the  towns  I  have  passed  through,  however  feeble  my 
voice  may  be,  in  the  midst  of  immense  throngs  gath- 
ered before  me,  that  is  what  I  have  said.  I  have 
brought  all  the  strength  of  my  heart  to  it. 

You  were  right,  my  dear  brother,  my  illustrious 
brother,  illustrious  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  you 
were  right  to  say  that  we  had  finally  found  the  means 
of  appealing  directly  to  the  heart  of  America.  And 
do  you  not  think  that  I  have  noticed  it?  Do  you 
imagine  that  I  have  not  felt  that  my  words  pene- 
trated the  souls  of  those  who  surrounded  me?  Do 
you  imagine  that  an  orator,  who,  being  in  the  pro- 
fession, could  speak,  could  be  carried  away  by  that 
alone,  by  his  individual  thought,  if  he  did  not  feel 
consciences  and  hearts  vibrating  around  him?  Yes, 
it  is  because  I  have  felt  in  you  a  heart  similar  to 
my  own,  because  my  impression  corresponded  to 
yours,  because  my  emotion  has  risen  to  the  height  of 
yours,  because  yours  has  risen  to  the  height  of  mine, 
that  we  have  understood  one  another,  and  that  in 
spite  of  the  difference  in  language  which  is  the  habili- 
ment of  the  soul,  we  have  perceived  one  soul,  the 
same,  the  same  in  France  as  in  America. 

Your  attitude  to-day,  like  the  attitude  which  I 
have  already  spoken  of,  has  been  outlined  by  Mr. 
Hughes.  He  saicj,  and  I  repeat  it:  It  is  not  an 
abstract  salute  which  the  French  mission  has  brought 
to  America.  No,  we  are  not  here  merely  to  exchange 
expressions  of  international  friendship;  we  have  not 


186  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

come  merely  for  the  purpose  of  shaking  hands  with 
you;  we  have  not  come  here  to  salute  you  nor  to  be- 
come intoxicated  by  the  clamorous  acclamations  which 
greet  us  in  your  streets.  We  have  come  here  to  pene- 
trate your  souls,  to  penetrate  your  hearts.  Yes,  this 
I  say,  we  have  come,  however  unworthy  we  may  be 
of  our  mission,  to  show  you  the  great  soul  of  wounded 
France,  of  suffering  France,  of  eternal  France. 

All  the  orators  who  have  preceded  me  upon  this 
platform  have  accorded  me  too  much  praise  to  per- 
mit me,  with  modesty,  to  surpass  the  height  of  his 
eulogy.  You  have  shown  the  French  isolated  at  the 
beginning  of  the  war,  sleeping  in  muddy  and  bloody 
trenches,  fighting  night  and  day,  constantly,  not  only 
for  themselves,  but  for  humanity.  You  have  con- 
sidered the  French  Army  as  the  vanguard  of  all  the 
armies  of  free  men.  Yes,  indeed,  that  is  true.  For 
the  last  three  years  we  have  been  fighting  for  liberty ; 
we  are  flinging  to  the  breeze  under  the  fire  of  cannon 
the  banner  of  universal  democracy.  May  free  men 
now  rise  and  come  to  our  side !  For  the  honor  of  hu- 
manity let  us  not  be  alone  in  this  fight. 

Come  to  us,  American  brothers,  whose  hearts  have 
been  attached  to  ours  since  Lafayette,  with  his  French 
soldiers,  landed  upon  your  soil  and  loaned  the  aid  of 
his  arms  to  American  independence.  It  is  not  for 
France;  it  is  not  for  you;  it  is  not  for  England;  it 
is  not  for  Russia.  No;  it  is  not  for  the  nations;  it 
is  for  the  whole  world ;  it  is  for  all  humanity. 

And  Mr.  Hughes  has  just  said  that  he  could  not 
imagine  a  country  where  international  law  would  no 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  187 

longer  exist.  In  fact,  it  would  be  a  country  similar 
to  a  forest  in  which  there  would  be  neither  laws  nor 
judges,  and  where  he  who  entered  might  at  any  step 
be  assassinated.  And  I  say  to  you,  what  good  will 
your  and  my  pacifist  studies  be,  what  good  will  it  be 
to  open  the  files  of  our  clients,  what  good  will  it  be 
to  invent  codes  for  the  determination  of  individual 
conflicts?  What  good  will  it  be  to  plead  individual 
causes  before  judges  if  the  great  cause  of  humanity 
is  not  gained  by  our  arms,  by  our  soldiers  ? 

Then  let  us  close  our  brief  cases.  Turn  from  the 
study  of  the  law  so  long  as  human  right  has  not  ob- 
tained the  satisfaction  to  which  it  is  entitled.  And 
since  in  the  history  of  the  world  no  progress  can 
be  initiated  unless  it  is  born  in  pain,  since  human 
and  eternal  right  can  only  stand  after  immense  heca- 
tombs have  been  slain  around  it,  let  us  send  our  pious 
homage  to  those  who  have  fallen  for  the  holy  cause 
and  create  in  ourselves  a  heart  of  iron,  a  heart  in- 
accessible to  fear  and  sorrow ;  let  us  continue  our  road 
to  the  end,  to  the  end  of  the  war,  to  the  victory  of 
justice  and  democracy. 

Permit  me  to  thank  you  for  your  presence  in  this 
hall,  for  this  immense  audience  which  hears  me,  to 
whom  I  can  say  that  never  more  than  to-day  have  I 
so  much  regretted  my  inability  to  speak  your  beauti- 
ful language  in  order  that  I  might  express  to  you 
with  clearness  and  precision  which  this  language  af- 
fords all  the  sentiments  which  fill  my  heart. 

Permit  me  to  say  that  to  have  been  received  by 
you  will  be  one  of  the  cherished  souvenirs  of  my  life. 


188  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

And  let  me  add  that  I  shall  not  leave  this  hall  filled 
with  exaggerated  pride  or  with  too  great  immodesty. 
Indeed,  although  this  opportunity  allows  you  to  ad- 
dress your  eulogies  to  me,  I  do  not  take  them  to  my- 
self:  it  is  for  the  great  judicial  family  to  which  for 
thirty  years  I  have  belonged,  to  the  Parisian  bar. 

MR.  Balfour's  arrival 

New  York  after  three  tumultuous  days  devoted  to  M. 
Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre,  rallied  gallantly  to  the  task 
of  making  the  British  Commission  welcome.  What  might 
have  been  a  painful  anti-climax  achieved,  however,  the  full 
flavor  of  a  triumph.  Landing  at  the  Battery,  Mr.  Balfour 
was  taken  to  the  City  Hall  in  a  car,  in  which  he  was  seated 
with  Mr.  Choate,  and  was  closely  followed  by  Sir  Cecil 
Spring-Rice,  the  British  Ambassador.  Then  came  in  long 
procession  the  military,  naval  and  diplomatic  members  of 
the  Commission.  The  officers  all  wore  khaki,  the  only  uni- 
form which  British  officers  were  allowed  to  wear  till  the  end 
of  the  war,  its  monotony  relieved  by  an  occasional  touch  of 
scarlet  ribbon.  Naval  officers,  too,  were  in  service  uniform. 
Just  inside  the  entrance  to  the  City  Hall  Mayor  Mitchel 
met  and  greeted  the  guests.  Proceeding  into  the  building 
and  then  up-stairs,  Maj^or  Mitchel  and  Mr.  Balfour  led  the 
way,  Mr.  Choate  and  Ambassador  Spring-Rice  following 
and  then  Frank  L.  Polk,  Counselor  of  the  State  Depart- 
ment, just  ahead  of  the  military  members  of  the  Commis- 
sion. The  party  marched  between  a  double  line  of  salut- 
ing swords  in  the  hands  of  members  of  the  Veteran  Corps 
of  Artillery.  Officers  saluted  the  colors  of  the  corps  as  they 
passed  on  the  landing  of  the  circular  stairway. 

Guests  of  the  Mayor,  who  had  assembled,  set  up  a  loud 
cheer  as  the  party  walked  in.    Mr.  Balfour  took  his  stand 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  189 

on  the  dais  where  the  French  Commissioners  haxi  received 
the  City^s  welcome  two  days  before,  with  Sir  Cecil  Spring- 
Rice  on  his  right  and  the  tall  figure  of  General  Bridges 
on  his  left.  After  another  burst  of  cheering,  with  much 
waving  of  the  flags  of  the  allied  nations  from  the  gallery 
and  of  silk  hats  from  the  floor,  the  Mayor  extended  his 
formal  welcome.  Mr.  Choate  was  asked  to  speak  on  behalf 
of  the  citizens  of  New  York. 

Mr.  Balfour  had  listened  with  evidence  of  deep  emotion 
to  the  addresses  of  welcome.  When  it  was  his  turn  to 
respond  he  found  his  voice  breaking  several  times.  He 
spoke  rather  slowly,  seeming  to  find  his  feelings  were 
interfering  with  his  choice  of  words.  His  seriousness  was 
reflected  in  the  spirit  that  fell  upon  the  audience.  They 
had  given  him  a  demonstration  equal  in  volume  and  in- 
tensity to  that  which  had  been  accorded  to  the  Marshal  of 
France.  When  he  began  to  speak  they  listened  with  deep 
and  solemn  earnestness,  as  if  realizing  the  tremendous  im- 
port of  his  visit.  They  applauded  when  he  declared  that 
America  would  share  the  trials  and  the  triumphs  of  the 
European  Allies;  they  applauded  again  when  he  said:  "If 
there  be  faint  hearts  on  the  other  side  I  have  not  heard  of 
them.''  Throughout  the  speech  it  was  evident  that  Mr. 
Balfour's  hearers  were  fully  impressed  with  his  own  ear- 
nestness, with  his  picture  of  America  giving  new  inspiration 
to  a  terribly  burdened  but  still  courageous  England.*  Mr. 
Balfour  said: 

Mr.  Mayor,  Mr.  Choate,  Gentlemen  of  the  City  of 
New  York:  On  behalf  of  my  friends  and  of  myself, 
I  beg  to  tender  you  our  warmest  thanks  for  a  recep- 
tion which  none  of  us,  however  long  our  experience 
may  be  of  public  life,  have  seen  the  like  of,  for  the 

*The  New  York  Times. 


190  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

reception  outside  in  your  noble  streets  and  within 
this  historic  hall,  will  always  remain  imprinted  upon 
the  memory  of  every  one  of  us. 

You,  Mr.  Mayor,  in  words  that  breathed  the  spirit 
of  a  noble  and  self-sacrificing  love  of  liberty,  have 
told  us  why  it  is  that  you  welcome  in  this  enthusiastic 
and  whole-hearted  fashion  our  mission  from  the  far- 
off  scene  of  war.  You  have  told  us,  and  Mr.  Choate 
has  admirably  emphasized  the  sentiments  which  you 
uttered;  you  have  told  us  that  the  American  people 
have  gone  in  deliberately,  whole-heartedly,  enthusi- 
astically, for  a  cause  which  has  in  it  no  taint  of  selfish- 
ness, no  beginning  of  self-seeking;  that  you  have 
gone  in  it,  as  you,  Mr.  Mayor,  pointed  out,  because 
all  your  moral  sympathies  are  on  the  side  for  which 
the  Allies  have  been  struggling  for  more  than  two 
years  and  a  half ;  the  cause  in  which  they  have  poured 
out  treasure  and  blood,  more  valuable  than  any  treas- 
ure, like  water,  in  the  cause.  You  have  told  us  that 
America  could  no  longer  stand  aloof,  but  must  take 
her  part  in  this  world's  struggle  and  must  bear  a 
share,  and  it  will  be  a  great  share;  a  great  share  in 
that  contest  for  the  liberties  of  mankind  which  is  now 
moving  every  corner  of  the  earth. 

You,  Mr.  Mayor,  I  remember  in  your  speech  told 
us  that  although  your  active  participation  in  the  war, 
your  formal  declaration  of  war,  was  but  thirty  days 
old,  the  moral  sense  of  this  great  city  and  of  the 
United  States  had  been  from  the  beginning  with  the 
allied  cause.  I  know  that  it  is  so,  and,  believe  me, 
even  before  you  came  in  and  before,  as  Mr.  Choate 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  191 

said,  you  were  prepared  to  throw  everything  you  pos- 
sessed into  the  struggle,  even  before  that  the  con- 
sciousness that  we  had  behind  us  the  sympathy  of 
this  great  nation  was  no  small  support  to  those  who 
were  for  the  moment  bearing  the  whole  burden  and 
heat  of  the  day. 

But  a  happier  occasion  has  come.  The  United 
States  have  thrown  all  they  possess  of  manhood,  of 
wealth,  and  of  those  high  qualities  which  are  better 
than  wealth  and  greater,  and  greater  even  in  the 
cause  of  terrestrial  fighting  than  wealth — they  have 
thrown  all  those  resources  into  the  common  stock; 
they  are  going  to  share  our  fortunes,  share  our  trials, 
share  our  struggles,  and,  Mr.  Mayor  and  gentlemen, 
share  our  triumphs. 

Those  who  had  the  good  fortune  to  drive  through 
the  streets  of  the  city  up  to  this  hall,  I  am  sure,  must 
have  been  astounded  at  the  whole-hearted  exhibition 
of  enthusiasm  which  from  every  street,  from  every 
window,  from  every  house,  made  itself  visible  and 
audible  to  the  spectators.  Seldom  have  I  seen  a  sight 
— and  my  experience,  alas,  is  an  old  one — seldom, 
or  never,  have  I  seen  a  sight  so  deeply  moving ;  never 
have  I  seen  a  sight  which  went  more  to  the  heart,  and 
I  thought,  as  I  drove  along  those  streets,  that  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  where  the  stress  and  strain 
of  battle  seems  sometimes  hard  to  sustain,  if  they 
could  have  one  glimpse  of  the  sympathies  shown  them 
in  this  vast  and  noble  community,  it  would  have  given, 
if  there  be  faint  hearts — I  have  not  heard  of  them  on 
the  other  side — if  faint  hearts  there  be,   it  would 


192  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

indeed  have  given  them  new  strength,  new  courage, 
and  fortified  them  with  new  resolution,  and  they 
would  have  felt,  if  they  ever  had  ceased  to  feel  it 
before,  they  would  have  felt  again  that  firm  de- 
termination to  carry  through  at  all  sacrifices  this 
great  struggle  to  its  appointed  end,  which,  after  all, 
is  the  very  strength  and  nerve  of  the  allied  forces. 

Mr.  Mayor  and  gentlemen,  I  do  not  think  I  can  add 
to  advantage  anything  to  what  I  have  already  ven- 
tured to  say.  I  know  my  words  have  at  most  but 
coldly  and  imperfectly  expressed  the  fervor  of  my 
feelings.  You  must  make  up  in  imagination  for  any 
deficiency  which  the  reality  may  possess,  for  I  do  as- 
sure you  from  my  heart  that  never  have  I  been  more 
deeply  stirred  by  any  occasion  or  by  any  cause  than 
by  this  occasion  and  this  cause  in  the  City  of  New 
York. 

After  prolonged  cheering  the  commission  passed  out 
through  a  lane  opened  in  the  crowd.  On  the  route  north 
Mr.  Balfour  passed  under  the  Washington  Arch,  the  in- 
scription above  having  a  banner  which  proclaimed:  "The 
World  Must  Be  Made  Safe  for  Democracy!"  By  this  trip 
under  the  arch  was  symbolized  the  fact  that  the  differences 
of  1776  and  1812  between  this  country  and  Great  Britain 
had  been  forgotten  in  the  common  cause  of  1917;  that  old 
wounds  had  healed  and  left  no  scars;  that  hands  which  had 
been  stretching  toward  each  other  across  the  sea  these  many 
years,  ever  drawing  closer,  had  finally  met  and  gripped  one 
another. 

The  party  proceeded  thence  to  the  Vincent  Astor  resi- 
dence on  upper  Fifth  Avenue,  where  Mr.  Balfour  was  to 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  193 

stay.  Mr.  Astor  and  Theodore  Rousseau,  the  Mayor's  Sec- 
retary, sat  with  the  Mayor  and  Mr.  Balfour  in  the  first 
car.  Mr.  Choate  followed  with  Sir  Cecil  Spring-Rice  and 
Mr.  Polk.  Solid  masses  of  people  along  the  way  shouted 
applause.  The  party  headed  by  mounted  police  reached  the 
Astor  home  at  5 :15  o'clock,  where  they  were  greeted  by  Mrs. 
Astor  and  friends  of  the  British  officials,  who  had  gathered 
there  to  receive  them.  It  so  happened  that  as  they  reached 
the  house.  Marshal  Joffre,  returning  from  his  visit  to  West 
Point,  passed  along  in  a  motor  car,  bound  further  north, 
for  the  Frick  mansion.  Mr.  Balfour  and  Mrs.  Astor  dis- 
covered him  and  waved  a  greeting  to  the  French  soldier, 
who  rose  in  his  car  and  saluted  them. 

THE  WALDORF  DINNER  TO  THE  FRENCH  AND  BRITISH 

At  the  Waldorf-Astoria  that  night  gathered  probably  the 
greatest  assemblage  of  distinguished  men  connected  with 
state  affairs  that  New  York  ever  saw  brought  together — 
Marshal  Joffre,  M.  Viviani,  Mr.  Balfour,  Rear  Admiral  de 
Chair,  Vice  Admiral  Chocheprat,  Lieutenant  General 
Bridges,  Marquis  de  Chambrun,  Lord  Cunliffe,  Colonel 
Roosevelt,  William  Howard  Taft,  Charles  E.  Hughes,  Gov- 
ernor Whitman,  Mayor  Mitchel  and  fifteen  hundred  other 
well-known  men.  These  eminent  citizens  of  New  York,  in 
dress  coats  and  fine  linen,  with  ladies  in  the  boxes  in  gay 
silks  and  bare  arms  and  shoulders,  yelled  as  loudly,  as  long 
and  as  enthusiastically  as  had  other  and  plainer  citizens  in 
public  streets. 

The  dinner  was  the  crowning  event  of  the  commission's 
sojourn  in  New  York.  An  electric  display  of  the  flags  of 
the  three  allies  hung  from  the  Fifth  Avenue  side  of  the 
hotel.  Thousands  of  persons  had  packed  the  sidewalks 
waiting  for  members  of  the  two  commissions  to  arrive.    The 


194  BALFOUR,  VIYIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

crowd  extended  far  below  and  above  the  hotel  and  backed 
away  for  several  hundred  feet  into  side  streets.  With  voices 
not  at  all  weakened  by  two  days  of  shouting,  men  and 
women  vociferously  hailed  the  visitors  as  their  automobiles 
rolled  down  the  avenue.  The  mighty  explosion  that  shook  the 
room  when  the  British  and  French  commissioners  entered, 
escorted  by  officials  of  the  state  and  city,  was  the  first  salvo 
in  a  bombardment  that  lasted  through  the  evening.  First 
came  the  spare,  erect  figure  of  the  Mayor,  walking  beside 
Mr.  Balfour,  with  Governor  Whitman  following,  escorting 
M.  Viviani.  Then  came  Senator  Calder  and  the  sturdy 
form  of  Marshal  Joffre;  Colonel  Roosevelt  with  Sir  Cecil 
Spring-Rice,  the  British  Ambassador;  former  President 
Taft  with  M.  Jusserand,  the  French  Ambassador;  Frank 
L.  Polk  with  Admiral  Chocheprat,  Nicholas  Murray  Butler 
with  Admiral  de  Chair,  and  Major  General  Wood  with 
Lieutenant  General  Bridges.  At  the  high  table,  sat  with 
the  Mayor  and  the  leading  members  of  the  visiting  mis- 
sions, two  ex-Presidents  of  the  United  States,  the  Governor 
of  New  York,  and  the  junior  United  States  Senator.  On 
the  floor  were  two  former  Presidential  candidates,  Charles 
E.  Hughes  and  Alton  B.  Parker,  great  financiers  and  busi- 
ness men,  and  officers  and  civilians  of  the  British  and 
French  commissions. 

When  the  guests  of  honor  filed  in  to  take  their  places, 
the  order  of  march  became  somewhat  disturbed,  so  that 
Colonel  Roosevelt  came  in  almost  at  the  end  of  the  proces- 
sion. When  the  crowd  at  last  saw  him,  the  volume  of  cheers 
that  had  been  given  for  Marshal  Joi^re,  M.  Viviani  and  Mr. 
Balfour  rang  out  again.  Another  excuse  for  cheering  came 
when  the  Colonel  shook  hands  with  Marshal  Joffre,  beside 
whom  he  was  to  sit.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  the  room 
was  finally  stilled.  During  most  of  the  dinner,  the  Colonel 
and  Marshal  Joffre  were  engaged  in  conversation  in  French. 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  195 

Because  the  committee  wished  to  give  an  example  of  econo- 
mies rendered  desirable  by  war  conditions,  there  was  a  sim- 
ple menu  of  five  courses  only,  most  of  them  characteristi- 
cally American — the  simplest  ever  served  at  a  great  public 
function  in  the  history  of  the  Waldorf.  Champagne  and 
liqueurs  were  the  only  drinks. 

The  decorations,  designed  by  Cass  Gilbert,  were  based  on 
a  background  of  horizon  blue,  the  color  of  the  French  field 
service  uniform,  hung  across  the  entire  wall  behind  the 
high  table.  Thirteen  wreaths  and  festoons  tied  with  gold 
ribbons  hung  from  the  top  of  this  screen,  and  in  the  mid- 
dle two  American  flags,  with  the  ensigns  of  the  other  allies 
grouped  about  them,  surmounted  the  Blashfield  medallions, 
beneath  which  was  a  gilt  panel  emblazoned  with  the  Presi- 
dent's famous  phrase  "To  make  the  world  safe  for  democ- 
racy." A  hedge  of  laurel  extended  just  behind  the  guests  of 
honor  the  whole  length  of  the  room,  with  tall  cedar  trees 
at  either  end.  Just  in  front  on  tall  staffs  were  two  Ameri- 
can flags  that  waved  in  breezes  made  by  electric  fans.  All 
through  the  Mayor's  address  and  the  speeches  of  Mr. 
Choate,  Mr.  Balfour  and  M.  Viviani,  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
crowd  broke  away  at  intervals,  blotting  out  the  speakers' 
voices  with  mighty  shouts  that  filled  the  chamber.  The 
Mayor  said: 

Ours  is  not  an  ancient  city.  It  is  not  old  measured 
by  the  age  of  Old  World  cities.  But  it  is  a  city  of 
extraordinary  things.  Its  short  history  is  full  of 
big  events.  Nothing,  however,  since  the  days  of  the 
Civil  War,  has  occurred  in  the  record  or  experience 
of  New  York  so  momentous  in  the  life  of  the  nation 
of  which  she  is  so  great  a  part  as  the  visit  to  our 
shores  of  the  French  and  British  war  commissions. 


196  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Nothing  in  her  civic  life,  since  the  visit  of  Lafayette, 
has  equaled  in  its  magnitude  or  in  its  stirring  quali- 
ties the  city's  reception  of  these  distinguished  guests. 

"We  prize  and  we  revere  the  institutions  of  free 
government  which  as  a  nation  we  have  established  and 
developed  at  so  great  a  cost.  These  institutions,  which 
we  would  defend  with  our  lives  to  the  last  ounce  of 
our  strength,  to  the  last  dollar  of  our  resources,  are 
at  once  a  blend  and  product  of  French  idealism  and 
British  common  law.  These  institutions  are  threat- 
ened. 

The  United  States  is  now  at  war.  These  men  and 
the  peoples  that  they  represent  are  our  allies  in 
that  war.  It  is  for  us  and  for  them  a  war  of  self- 
preservation ;  a  war  in  which  autocratic  militarism 
seeks  to  sweep  from  the  earth  the  institutions  of  self- 
governing  freeman;  a  war  in  which  all  the  pent-up 
barbarism  of  a  thousand  years  seems  to  burst  forth, 
bent  upon  obliterating  civilization  and  justice ;  a  war 
in  which  the  ideals  and  the  institutions  of  democracy 
are  threatened  with  annihilation. 

This  is  especially  our  war.  Democracy  destroyed 
in  Europe  means  democracy  first  threatened  and  then 
destroyed  in  the  United  States.  At  last  we  see  it. 
America  is  now  awake,  and  New  York — New  York, 
that  has  never  hung  back  or  faltered  in  the  hour  of 
the  nation 's  peril — clasps  hands  with  these,  our  guests 
and  allies,  and  says  to  them :  *  *  We  're  with  you  in  this 
thing  to  the  end,  lead  where  it  may." 

What  can  we  say  to  them?  Their  peoples  have 
known  privations  and  the  sufferings  of  war.    We  have 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  197 

not.  Democracy  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  pro- 
tected by  the  British  navy,  defended  by  the  valiant 
hosts  of  France  at  the  Battle  of  the  Marne,  secured 
by  the  armies  of  the  Allies  for  two  years  and  a  half, 
has  pursued  its  prosperous  and  peaceful  course,  un- 
shaken by  the  terrors  and  the  sufferings  that  have 
torn  Europe. 

That  day  is  past.  The  hour  of  our  trial  is  at  hand. 
It  was  not  to  be  that  American  democracy  should 
thrive  and  live  at  peace  while  European  democracy 
fought  and  suffered  to  preserve  to  the  world  popular 
self-government.  American  democracy  now  must 
make  its  sacrifice  in  the  common  cause  of  civilization 
and  of  justice,  and  it  is  well  for  the  soul  and  spirit 
of  our  nation  that  this  is  so. 

Gentlemen  of  England  and  of  France,  our  Presi- 
dent, speaking  for  every  loyal  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  has  pledged  to  you  the  resources  of  the  United 
States — ^money,  ships,  munitions,  food.  These  things 
we  give  you  freely  and  esteem  the  giving  but  a  light 
tax  upon  our  unbounded  wealth.     It  is  not  enough. 

There  lacks  the  spiritual  contribution  of  manhood, 
service  and  blood-sacrifice.  This,  too,  must  be  ours. 
Our  duty  will  be  done,  out  debt  discharged,  our  des- 
tiny achieved,  only  when  the  hosts  of  American  de- 
mocracy take  their  places  beside  the  hosts  of  Eng- 
land and  France,  resolved  to  fight  and  fight  and  still 
to  fight  until  victory  rescues  the  world  from  autocracy 
and  barbarism. 

Mr  Choate,  who  was  introduced  by  Mayor  Mitchel, 
predicted  victory  for  the  United  States  in  company  with 


198  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

"these  dear  allies  of  ours — Great  Britain,  our  beloved 
mother  country,  and  France,  our  dear,  delightful,  bewitch- 
ing, fascinating,  hypnotizing  sister."  Referring  to  an  ad- 
dress made  by  him  the  day  before,  in  which  he  urged  that 
the  Government  hurry  troops  to  France,  Mr.  Choate  said, 
turning  toward  Colonel  Roosevelt,  who  grinned  delightedly : 

I  cannot  see  why  a  man  who  has  already  served 
his  country  so  nobly  and  so  widely  that  his  fame 
has  reached  the  uttermost  corners  of  the  earth,  should 
not  have  been  allowed  to  go  when  he  proposed  to  offer 
to  his  country  a  division  of  20,000  soldiers,  all  pre- 
pared to  cross  and  take  their  places  by  the  side  of 
their  brethren  in  France.  I  think  that  if  he  was 
willing  to  take  the  risk  of  it,  we  might.  But  there 
is  a  wiser  body  than  any  of  us,  an  immortal  body, 
not  possessed  so  much,  of  soul  as  of  immortality — 
Congress,  that  stepped  in  and  held  Roosevelt  back. 

Mr.  Choate  then  predicted  a  speedy  victory  for  the  newly 
strengthened  Allies.  "For  the  first  time  after  two  and  a 
half  years  of  waiting,"  he  said,  "I  am  able  to  hold  my 
head  as  high  as  the  weight  of  eighty-five  years  will  allow." 
Mr.  Balfour,  in  following  Mr.  Choate,  said: 

The  two  inspiring  speeches  which  we  have  listened 
to  this  evening  were  addressed  by  the  speakers  in 
the  main  to  their  own  countrymen.  They  appealed 
to  all  the  patriotic  feelings  and  all  the  manhood  of 
America  to  join  in  the  great  cause  in  which  the  Allies 
are  engaged. 

Certainly  it  was  the  right  of  these  gentlemen  to 
make  that  appeal.    It  is  not  my  right.     I  have  not 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  199 

come  here — as  my  old  and  true  friend,  Mr.  Choate, 
seems  to  suppose — I  have  not  come  here  authorized 
by  my  government  to  set  myself  up  or  to  set  my 
friends  up  as  instructors  of  the  great  American  peo- 
ple. They  know  and  you  know  how  to  manage  your 
affairs,  and  do  not  require  us  to  teach  you.  It  may 
be — it  probably  is  a  fact — that  a  study  of  the  pur- 
pose, a  very  minute  study  of  the  history  of  this  war, 
will  show  those  who  run  and  desire  to  read  that  there 
are  certain  mistakes  which  a  great  democracy  im- 
perfectly prepared  for  war  may  easily  make.  We 
shall  be  happy  to  describe  those  mistakes  to  you  if 
happily  it  will  be  your  desire  to  learn  the  lesson  from 
them.  But  I  do  not  propose  either  now  or  at  any 
other  occasion  to  set  myself  up  as  an  adviser  or  moni- 
tor on  these  great  themes. 

It  is  enough  that  I  proclaim  my  unalterable  convic- 
tion that  we  have  reached  a  moment  in  the  world's 
history  when  the  future,  not  of  this  country,  but 
of  every  country — not  of  its  interests  but  of  every 
interest — when  the  very  heart  of  civilization  is  trem- 
bling in  the  balance.  At  this  critical  moment  it  is 
my  bounden  duty,  whatever  nation  or  people  I  ad- 
dress,  to  raise  up  my  voice  and  to  appeal  to  all  who 
will  listen  to  me  that,  in  the  great  task  which  we 
have  been  bearing  for  two  and  a  half  years,  they  will 
take  the  weight  also  upon  their  shoulders. 

The  Mayor  of  New  York  told  us  in  his  speech  that 
since  the  Civil  War  no  such  date  has  occurred  in  New 
York,  no  such  occasion  has  been  seen  in  New  York, 
as  yesterday  and  to-day.    What  is  that?    Why  it  is 


200  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

that  the  people  of  this  great  city  have  come  forth 
instinctively — I  was  going  to  say  by  thousands;  I 
feel  inclined  to  say  by  millions — to  show  their  en- 
thusiasm for  the  cause  you  have  taken  up  ?  It  is  be- 
cause they  instinctively  feel  what  is  the  vital  issue 
at  stake,  because  they  instinctively  feel  that  it  is 
neither  desirable,  nor,  were  it  desirable,  possible,  for 
this  great  republic  to  hold  itself  aloof  from  a  world 
in  suffering  and  not  to  do  its  part  to  redeem  mankind. 
Surely  it  is  a  significant  fact  that  here  we  are,  the 
representatives  of  three  great  democracies, — my 
friends,  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre,  meet  with 
us  who  come  from  Great  Britain,  and,  in  the  very 
center  and  heart  of  New  York,  plead  a  common  cause. 
What  has  brought  us  all  together?  What  is  the 
meaning  of  this  unique  gathering  ?  What  is  the  mean- 
ing of  the  multitude  crowding  your  streets  to-day  and 
yesterday?  It  is  a  shallow  view  to  suppose  that  each 
of  these  great  nations  has  had  a  separate  and  different 
cause  of  controversy  with  the  enemy — that  Russia 
was  dragged  in  because  of  Serbia,  that  France  was 
dragged  in  because  of  Russia,  that  Great  Britain  was 
dragged  in  because  of  the  violation  of  Belgian  terri- 
tory and  that  the  United  States  has  been  dragged  in 
because  of  the  piratical  warfare  of  the  German  sub- 
marines. All  those  causes  are,  each  of  them,  and 
separately,  no  doubt  sufficient  reason;  but  for  a  mo- 
ment consider  this  war  carried  on  by  the  Allies  is 
that  of  separate  interest,  separate  causes  of  contro- 
versy, is  an  utterly  inadequate  and  false  view  of  the 
situation. 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  201 

These  are  but  symptoms  of  the  absolute  necessity 
in  which  the  civilized  world  finds  itself  to  deal  with 
an  imminent  and  overmastering  peril.  What  is  that 
peril  ?  Who  has  brought  us  here  together  ?  What  is 
it  we  are  afraid  of?  I  won't  say  afraid.  What  is  it 
we  feel  that  we  have  got  to  stop  ?  I  will  tell  you  my 
view  of  it.  It  is  the  calculated  and  remorseless  use 
of  every  civilized  weapon  to  carry  out  the  ends  of 
pure  barbarism. 

To  us  of  Anglo-Saxon,  of  people  of  English  speech, 
it  seems  impossible,  incredible,  that  a  nation  should 
clearly  set  itself  to  work  and  coordinate  every  means 
of  science,  every  means  that  knowledge,  that  industry 
can  provide,  not  for  the  bettering  of  its  own  people, 
but  for  the  demolition  of  other  people. 

The  world  is  too  full — the  history  of  the  world  is 
too  full — of  the  adventures  of  unscrupulous  ambition. 
We  know  all  through  history  of  men  who  have  en- 
deavored, at  the  cost  of  others,  to  expand  their  own 
estate.  W^e  have  seen  within  the  last  century,  or  a 
little  more,  men  of  genius  trying  to  coerce  the  world. 
But  this  is  not  a  case  of  a  new  Napoleon  arising  to 
carry  out  a  new  adventure.  This  is  not  a  case  of 
adventure,  of  genius  seeking  to  artify  his  ambition 
within  the  limits  of  his  own  country. 

This  is  something  far  different  and  far  more  dan- 
gerous for  mankind.  It  is  the  settled  determination 
to  use  every  means,  and  to  use  every  means  in  coopera- 
tion, to  put  the  whole  world  at  her  feet.  We  all  know 
it  is  a  commonplace  that  science  has  enormously  ex- 
panded the  means  by  which  men  can  kill  each  other. 


202  BALFOUR,  YIYIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Modern  destruction  is  carried  out  as  much  in  the 
laboratory  of  your  universities  as  it  is  on  the  field 
of  battle,  but  we  have  always  believed,  we  have  al- 
ways hoped,  that  this  increased  power  of  destruction 
would  be  limited  and  controlled  by  the  growing  forces 
of  humanity  and  civilization.  We  have  been  taught, 
not  by  Germany  but  by  those  who  rule  Germany,  by 
the  military  caste  which  controls  Germany — we  have 
been  taught  a  different  lesson,  and  we  now  know  not 
merely  that  every  scientific  weapon  will  be  put  in 
force  to  make  war  more  horrible  than  it  was  in  bar- 
barous time,  but  that  even  the  rights  of  civilization, 
of  trade,  of  commerce,  even  the  intercommunication 
between  different  peoples,  will  be  used  for  the  same 
sinister  object. 

And  at  this  moment  a  defect,  in  any  country  of 
the  world  which  it  is  not  the  desire  and  the  object  of 
German  diplomacy  to  aggravate,  which  German 
money  is  not  used  to  increase,  which  does  not  carry 
with  it,  not  the  blessings  of  wealth,  of  commerce  and 
of  intercourse — ^human  intercourse — but,  on  the  con- 
trary, these  means  of  domination  must  quit — the 
peaceful  dominations  which  are  the  most  dangerous 
and  sinister  allies  of  shells  or  guns  and  of  all  the 
modern  apparatus  of  war. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  that  is  the  danger  we  have 
to  meet,  and  if  at  this  moment  the  world  is  bathed 
in  blood  and  tears  from  the  highlands  of  distant 
Armenia  down  to  the  very  fields  of  France,  almost 
within  sight  of  the  Straits  of  Dover — if  we  have  seen 
a  destruction  of  life,  a  reckless  destruction  of  life, 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  203 

not  merely  of  the  life  of  soldiers,  but  the  life  of 
civilians;  if  we  have  seen  peaceful  communities 
dragged  through  the  mire,  ruined,  outraged;  if  hor- 
ror has  been  heaped  upon  horror  until  really  we  al- 
most get  callous  in  reading  our  newspapers  in  the 
morning ;  when  we  see  some  of  these  atrocities,  really 
and  truly  attributed  to  those  with  whom  we  are  fight- 
ing— if  all  these  things  are  true,  shall  we  not  rise  up 
and  resist  them? 

Shall  we,  who  know  what  freedom  is,  become  the 
humble  and  obsequious  servants  of  those  who  only 
know  what  power  is?  That  will  never  be  tolerated. 
The  free  nations  of  the  earth  are  not  thus  to  be 
crushed  out  of  existence,  and  if  any  proof  is  required 
that  that  consummation  cannot  be  reached  in  the 
civilization  of  the  world,  that  that  consummation  is 
impossible,  it  is  to  be  seen  in  a  gathering  like  this, 
where  the  three  great  democracies  of  the  West  are 
joined  together  and  are  meeting  together,  I  may  say, 
under  circumstances  unique  in  the  whole  history  of 
the  world. 

And  that  fact  should  also  give  strength  and  con- 
solation to  those  who,  feeling  the  magnitude  of  the 
issue  at  stake,  are  inclined  to  doubt  how  the  contest 
will  end.  But  we  will  fail  unless  all  here  who  love 
liberty,  and  who  are  prepared  to  labor  together,  to 
fight  together,  to  make  our  sacrifice  in  common — un- 
less that  happens  we  may  be  destroyed  piecemeal  and 
the  civilization  of  the  world  may  receive  a  wound  from 
which  it  will  not  easily  recover. 

Mr.  Mayor,  ladies  and  gentlemen,   permit  me  to 


204  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

thank  you — permit  me  to  thank  you,  Mr.  Mayor,  for 
the  kind  words  you  have  used  to  myself,  and  to  thank 
you  also  and  through  you  the  great  City  of  New 
York  for  the  reception  which  you  have  given  to  those 
who,  though  they  have  come  from  afar,  do  not  feel 
that  they  have  come  to  a  strange  country,  but  rather 
that  they  have  come  among  brothers  and  friends. 

The  series  of  eloquent  speeches  with  which  M.  Viviani 
had  thrilled  the  American  public  ever  since  his  arrival, 
came  to  a  climax  in  the  speech  he  made  at  this  dinner. 
When  the  dinner  was  over,  he  rushed  away  to  take  a  train 
for  Ottawa,  Canada,  and  with  him  went  the  stenographer 
who  had  taken  down  his  speech,  which  was  delivered  in 
French.  The  newspapers,  in  consequence,  not  having  been 
permitted  to  send  their  own  stenographers  to  the  dinner, 
were  unable  next  day  to  print  M.  Viviani's  speech.  In  fact, 
it  was  not  until  after  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  had 
sailed  for  France  that  the  speech  in  translation  became 
available  for  publication.    Following  is  the  speech : 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  Before  leaving  New  York 
officially  with  my  companions,  I  wish  it  were  in  my 
power  to  express  worthily  and  in  a  voice  that  could 
rise  above  your  cheering  and  your  ovations  our  thanks 
to  your  vast  population,  which  even  this  immense 
city  can  hardly  contain.  And  as  if  the  enthusiastic 
acclamations  of  these  throngs,  which  through  our  pass- 
ing presence  reach  far  above  and  beyond  us  to  the 
France  we  represent,  were  not  enough  to  express  your 
feelings,  you  have  here,  Mr.  Mayor,  gathered  together 
in  this  enormous  hall  for  a  last  farewell  the  very 
flower  of  your  city.    When  I  lift  my  dazzled  eyes  I 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  205 

see  beneath  a  flood  of  light  all  the  radiance  of  youth 
and  beauty  assembled. 

But  since  I  can  find  no  adequate  words  to  ac- 
knowledge our  appreciation  of  your  exquisite  cour- 
tesy, allow  me,  Mr.  Mayor,  to  turn  in  simple  thanks 
to  you,  and  through  you  to  the  population  of  New 
York.  May  I  congratulate  the  city  upon  being  repre- 
sented by  such  a  man  as  yourself,  on  whose  youthful 
brow  I  see  all  the  maturity  of  deep  thought,  and  who 
in  order  to  administer  such  a  gigantic  city  and  to 
meet  such  complex  duties  must  indeed  be  gifted  with 
an  exceptional  combination  of  power  and  gentleness? 

And  if  I  could,  were  I  not  so  pressed  for  time — 
for  indeed  at  this  very  moment  the  whistle  of  the 
train  is  calling  us — I  would  attempt,  as  one  gathers 
flowers  into  a  nosegay,  to  recall  and  bind  together  the 
various  impressions  which  my  companions  and  my- 
self have  gathered  in  the  course  of  our  triumphal 
journey.  I  used  to  consider  America,  in  deeds,  at 
least,  if  not  in  thought,  as  above  all  a  commercial 
country.  But  soon  after  we  left  Washington,  the 
great  political  capital  and  seat  of  Government,  where 
we  had  the  honor  of  being  received  by  your  illustrious 
President,  Mr.  Wilson,  whose  invisible  and  powerful 
presence  we  seemed  to  feel  everywhere  throughout  the 
country,  soon  after  we  left  Washington,  accompanied 
by  Mr.  Lansing's  assistants,  Mr.  Long,  Mr.  Polk,  Mr. 
Phillips,  who  were  kind  enough  to  share  with  us 
the  hardships  of  the  road,  who  also  shared,  I  may  say, 
the  intoxication  of  our  triumph,  we  had  a  full  op- 
portunity of  seeing  a  part,  though  but  a  small  one,  of 


206  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

this  vast  America  which  before  was  unknown  to  some 
of  us. 

And  what  did  we  behold?  Undoubtedly  many 
Americans  of  ancient  origin,  but  also  (and  they  above 
all  attracted  our  attention,  all  the  more  because  we 
had  heard  so  much  of  them)  people  of  all  races  fused 
in  your  gigantic  melting  pot.  Many  of  these  races 
have  doubtless  remained  faithful  to  their  old  tradi- 
tions, but  the  American  soul  is  so  all-embracing,  so 
powerful,  that  it  has  absorbed  them  all,  and  that  they 
are  now  all  American.  We  saw,  with  our  own  eyes, 
proofs  of  their  loyalty  to  their  new  fatherland  and 
of  a  national  unity  we  were  hardly  prepared  to  find. 

And  it  is  before  this  people  we  appear  to-day  in 
this  tragical  hour,  before  this  people  which  has,  so 
to  say,  absorbed  into  its  frame  the  races  and  tradi- 
tions of  other  lands  and  in  whose  midst  the  old  Euro- 
pean races  have  come  to  renew  their  blood,  and  seek 
fresh  fountains  of  strength.  It  is  before  this  people 
we  come  to  solve  grave  problems.  And  in  spite  of  the 
distance,  even  here  our  minds  go  back  to  the  battle- 
fields, to  the  struggles,  the  sorrows  and  the  sufferings 
of  the  old  world.  Such  a  meeting  at  such  a  time  is 
the  greatest  honor  of  my  life,  and  I  count  it  also  a 
supreme  satisfaction  to  meet  here  amidst  such  a 
gathering  my  distinguished  colleague,  the  representa- 
tive of  noble  Great  Britain,  Mr.  Balfour,  who  in  a 
simple  and  manly  speech  has  just  expressed  truths 
similar  to  those  which  I,  in  my  turn,  will  seek  to 
express. 

May  I  be  permitted,  Mr.  Mayor,  to  recall  those  dark 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  207 

days  you  alluded  to  just  now,  those  fateful  hours, 
when  I  was  Prime  Minister  of  France  and  Marshal 
Joffre  was  in  supreme  command  of  the  French  forces  ? 
As  you  very  truly  said,  each  knew  he  could  rely 
upon  the  other.  At  that  hour,  on  Au^st  3,  1914,  we 
were  face  to  face  with  Imperial  Germany.  Along  with 
Russia,  which  has  now  sprung  to  new  national  life, 
and  which,  I  trust,  after  the  tempest  of  its  revolution 
is  over  and  its  eddies  have  subsided,  will  realize  that 
national  emancipation  and  world-wide  liberty  must  be 
fought  for  at  one  and  the  same  time,  alone  with  Rus- 
sia, France  faced  her  destiny.  England  had  not  yet 
joined  us,  but  of  her  I  never  doubted.  If  at  that  date 
an  Englishman  had  told  me  he  would  refuse  to  fight 
I  should  have  answered  he  knew  not  what  he  said; 
that  such  a  thought  was  unthinkable. 

And,  indeed,  those  anxious  hours  passed  swiftly 
away ;  Germany  tore  international  treaties  to  pieces  in 
order  to  strike  a  quicker  blow  at  France ;  she  invaded 
heroic  Belgium,  who,  with  her  chivalrous  King,  rushed 
to  meet  her,  and  England,  our  indomitable  ally,  rose 
to  a  man  when  the  fateful  hour  had  struck.  With 
us  she  had  signed  that  broken  treaty;  she  declared 
that  her  national  honor  would  be  stained  if  the  blood 
of  her  children  were  not  shed  to  defend  her  signature. 
She  declared  there  were  not  two  standards  of  moral- 
ity, one  for  nations,  one  for  individuals ;  that  honesty 
was  the  common  basis  for  all  human  relations,  and 
that  she  would  perish  rather  than  be  dishonored. 
And  she  sprang  to  her  feet,  rallied  to  our  side,  mobi- 
lized her  powerful  fleet;  and  next,  as  Mr.  Balfour 


208  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

said,  sent  us  such  an  army  as  she  could,  for  she  was 
unprepared,  as  democracies  too  often  are  through  the 
failure  of  a  general  conscription  law,  to  gather  more 
than  80,000  men.  But  those  she  sent  under  Marshal 
French  to  cooperate  with  General  Joffre  and  receive 
his  instructions.  She  could  do  no  more.  ''French's 
contemptible  little  army,"  the  Kaiser  sneered,  but 
it  fought  with  us  on  the  Marne  and  swelled  rapidly 
to  200,000,  then  500,000,  then  1,000,000,  then  1,- 
500,000.  Thus  did  England  call  from  her  soil  her 
legions  to  join  ours  and  hold  ever  wider  portions  of 
our  front.  And  General  Joffre,  who,  if  he  was  not 
in  direct  command  of  the  English  forces,  yet  gave 
his  instructions  first  to  Marshal  French,  then  to  Gen- 
eral Sir  Douglas  Haig,  now  in  supreme  command. 
General  Joffre  would  tell  you  what  valiant  soldiers, 
what  heroes  have  rallied  to  our  side,  full  of  that  quiet 
energy,  dogged  courage,  humorous  cheerfulness,  char- 
acteristic of  a  race  that  smiles  in  the  very  jaws  of 
death. 

Now  German  organizations,  German  Kultur,  are 
fine  things,  no  doubt,  gentlemen,  when  seen  from  a 
distance.  But  mark  me  well,  their  vices  are  apparent 
when  one  draws  near  to  them.  Do  you  know  what 
has  brought  disaster  on  Germany?  What  hurls  her 
to  ruin?  Let  me  tell  you:  it  is  her  lack  of  psycho- 
logical insight.  She  sent  to  England,  to  Russia,  to 
France,  second-rate  diplomats  whose  only  care  was 
to  gossip  in  drawing  rooms  and  know  not  the  people. 
Of  English  history,  of  French  history,  they  know 
nothing.    Germany  imagined  these  two  great  peoples 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  209 

were  helpless  to  defend  themselves.  What  did  she 
think  of  England?  That  it  was  a  people  enamored 
of  peace  and  that  no  power  could  emerge  out  of  their 
island,  that  the  Government  in  1914  was  pacifist  and 
afraid  to  fight.  And  again  that  imperialistic  Eng- 
land in  her  desire  to  dominate  the  world  would  rouse 
her  very  colonies  to  revolt;  and  Ireland's  rebellion 
was  a  sure  thing,  fomented  as  it  was  doubtless  by- 
German  gold.  Well,  what  did  happen?  Ireland  re- 
mained loyal  to  England,  and  the  English  colonies, 
seething  with  revolt  they  said,  rose,  not  in  revolt,  but 
to  send  their  sons,  their  munitions,  their  money,  their 
very  life-blood,  to  Great  Britain.  And  what  does  that 
teach  us?  It  teaches  us  that  when  a  country  has  an 
ideal,  when  it  loves  liberty,  not  only  for  itself  but 
for  all  men,  when  it  carries  free  principles  everywhere 
with  it,  it  brings  forth  not  slaves  but  free  men,  men 
who  in  the  hour  of  peril  heroically  rush  as  the  Eng- 
lish colonies  did,  to  the  help  of  their  menaced  mother- 
land. 

And  so  with  us.  Germany's  mistake  was  no  less 
ruinously  foolish.  She  had  sent  us  a  diplomat,  Mr.  de 
Schoen,  who  knew  nothing  of  France,  and  who 
dreamed  her  powerless  because  he  had  witnessed  our 
interior  dissensions,  party  quarrels,  divisions  of  opin- 
ion, which  are  the  honor  of  our  country,  because  a 
free  nation  needs  must  seek  truth  and  its  ideal  in 
every  way.  So  Germany  imagined  the  hour  of  battle 
would  find  us  unprepared,  incapable  of  defense;  she 
saw  France — corrupt  and  dissolute  France — beaten  to 
her  feet  at  the  first  shock  and  demanding  peace  at 


210  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

any  cost  of  Imperial  Germany  after  the  first  brief 
battles.  Doubtless  our  past  history  made  her  give 
us  credit  for  being  brave,  intrepid,  capable  of  dash 
on  the  battlefield.  But  what  could  courage,  intre- 
pidity, dash,  avail ;  vrhat  all  the  virtues  of  individual 
men  which  are  the  glory  of  every  man?  Germany 
was  scientifically  organized ;  her  industrial  and  scien- 
tific organization  needs  must  prevail  over  French 
valor. 

Well,  what  did  we  make  manifest  to  the  whole 
world  ?  Two  qualities :  One  which  all  men  knew  who 
knew  the  glorious  traditions  of  France  throughout 
the  ages — dash,  intrepidity,  valor,  contempt  of  death ; 
but  another  quality  was  denied  us,  that  of  endurance, 
that  of  patience,  that  of  quiet  courage;  the  steady 
heart  and  unshaken  nerves  under  the  storm  of  shot 
and  shell.  Now,  in  two  battles  we  combined  both 
qualities  as  if  we  would  offer  them  up  to  the  whole 
world  as  a  homage  and  a  lesson.  In  August,  1914,  we 
showed  what  dash  French  troops  possessed  in  spite  of 
weariness,  in  spite  of  the  heat  of  an  endless  summer, 
the  exhaustion  of  three  weeks'  incessant  fighting. 
Suddenly,  miraculously,  the  whole  French  Army  stood 
at  bay  and  turned  upon  its  enemy.  And  the  man 
who  commanded  that  army  had  remained  calm  and 
impassive.  Every  evening  he  telephoned  to  me,  who 
was  then  Premier  of  France,  the  result  of  the  military 
operations ;  at  this  very  moment  I  can  hear  his  voice 
come  to  me  over  the  wires,  quiet,  grave,  unbroken  by 
the  slightest  emotion.  And  that  voice  spoke  its  un- 
flinching confidence  in  final  victory  in  spite  of  all. 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  211 

And  when  the  hour  had  struck,  the  moment  come,  the 
order  was  issued,  was  forwarded  to  the  armies,  the 
Generals ;  every  officer  read  it  to  his  men :  * '  My  chil- 
dren, here  we  stand.  Halt  and  face  the  barbarians. 
Die  to  the  last  man  rather  than  retreat  another  step ! ' ' 

Such  was  French  dash,  French  valor.  It  counted 
for  nothing  in  German  eyes.  But  the  day  came  when 
the  other  virtue  was  shown,  that  on  which  they  relied 
yet  less.  One  day  they  dreamed  Verdun  could  be 
taken,  not  because  it  was  in  itself  the  greatest  prize; 
it  would  have  been  no  victory — ^but  to  drive  into 
France  and  impose  peace — for  our  enemies  think  they 
can  let  peace  loose  on  the  world  as  they  unchain  war. 
And  so  German  armies  were  piled  up  on  the  French 
front.  It  was  impossible,  for  now  at  the  opportune 
time  comes  free  America  to  our  side,  radiant  with  its 
democratic  ideals  and  ancient  traditions,  to  fight  with 
us.  She  read  in  President  Wilson's  incomparable 
message  which  has  gone  to  the  heart  of  us  to  advance 
against  such  odds.  Our  Generals  spoke :  *  *  Children, 
not  one  step  back ;  if  you  yield  a  yard,  let  every  yard 
have  its  bloody  cost  for  your  enemy. ' ' 

And  through  the  endless  days  and  nights,  under 
shot  and  shell,  under  the  avalanche  of  shells  that  tore 
up  the  very  earth,  among  their  falling  comrades,  led 
by  their  officers,  our  men  held  fast,  contesting  every 
inch  of  ground,  fighting  for  months  and  months  with- 
out an  instant's  respite,  checking  the  whole  weight 
of  the  German  army.  And  now  when  we  leave  our 
land,  when  we  say  those  two  names,  the  Marne  and 
Verdun,  we  mingle  in  one  the  two  master  virtues  of 


212  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

our  race,  valor  and  patience,  courage  and  endurance, 
the  Marne  and  Verdun,  names  which  accompany  us 
wherever  we  go,  in  neutral,  in  friendly,  in  allied  coun- 
tries, the  Marne,  Verdun,  the  glory  of  which  follows 
us  step  by  step  as  we  go  and  sheds  its  radiance  over 
the  heavens  above  us. 

What  yet  remains  to  be  done?  For  three  long 
years  the  English  and  the  French,  sword  in  hand,  have 
fought,  not  for  England  alone,  not  for  France  alone, 
but  for  humanity,  for  right,  for  democracy.  For 
three  long  years  the  Russian  soldiers  in  the  northern 
snows,  victorious  in  Southern  Europe,  have  fought 
for  the  same  ideal;  for  two  years  seductive,  virile 
Italy  has  scaled  the  Alps  and  shattered  with  its  hands 
the  stony  barrier  that  stifled  its  liberty;  for  three 
years  Serbia,  murdered,  trampled  under  foot  ruth- 
lessly, has  fought;  for  three  years  heroic  Belgium 
has  maintained  her  honor  against  a  perjured  foe. 
For  three  long  years  we  have  striven,  face  to  face 
with  our  enemy,  tightened  our  grasp  upon  her  throat, 
held  our  own.  And  now,  when  we  are  still  strong  and 
undismayed,  neither  worn  out  nor  doubting,  still  full 
of  force  and  resource,  every  Frenchman  knows  the 
deep  reasons  why  America  could  not  but  enter  into 
this  war.  Yes;  doubtless  you  had  your  slaughtered 
dead  to  avenge,  to  avenge  the  insults  heaped  on  your 
honor.  You  could  not  for  one  moment  conceive  that 
the  land  of  Lincoln,  the  land  of  Washington,  could 
bow  humbly  before  the  imperial  eagle.  But  not  for 
that  did  you  rise ;  not  for  your  national  honor  alone ; 
do  not  say  it  was  for  that.    You  are  fighting  for  the 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  213 

whole  world ;  you  are  fighting  for  all  liberty ;  you  are 
fighting  for  civilization ;  that  is  why  you  have  risen  in 
battle.  And  just  now  Mr.  Choate  said :  * '  The  English 
and  French  Missions  are  here  to  tell  us  what  to  avoid 
and  what  to  do. ' ' 

And  your  Mayor  expressed  in  an  accurate  formula 
his  generous  conception  of  our  relations  when  he 
said:  ''America  is  founded  on  French  idealism  and 
English  common  law. ' '  Nothing  could  be  truer ;  it  is 
all  the  truth ;  I  can  add  nothing  to  his  words.  But  I 
will  tell  you  what  you  can  do.  You  are  remote  from 
our  battlefields ;  no  Zeppelins  can  fly  above  your  towns 
and  scatter  their  bombs  over  the  cradles  of  your  inno- 
cent children;  German  ships  are  blocked  in  the  Kiel 
Canal;  they  cannot  defile  your  waters;  at  this  dis- 
tance you  cannot  hear  the  roar  of  the  cannon.  But 
can  you  imagine  that  you  are  not,  in  sooth,  as  close 
to  us,  in  spite  of  distance,  as  we  are  to  you — that 
Germany  is  not  as  near  you  as  she  is  to  us,  that  the 
peril  is  remote?  No.  The  menace  of  Germany  lies 
where  Mr.  Balfour  so  philosophically  defined  it.  He 
told  you  that  the  menace  of  Germany  lies  in  her 
scientific  organization,  and  I  will  attempt  to  interpret 
his  words  in  the  spirit  that  prompted  them.  We  are 
all  agreed  Prussian  militarism  must  be  crushed;  so 
long  as  the  world  contains  it  there  is  no  safety  in  it 
for  democracy.  But  what  is  Prussian  militarism  ?  It 
was  not  born  yesterday ;  it  was  not  born  in  1914.  It  is 
an  ancient  sore.  It  is  the  bestial  and  inhuman  expres- 
sion of  a  philosophy,  the  outcome  of  a  whole  race  so 
madly  intoxicated  with  conceit  that  it  imagines  it  is 


214  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

predestined  to  dominate  the  world  and  is  amazed  to 
see  free  men  dare  to  rise  and  contest  its  rights.  And 
if  you  had  not  risen  against  it,  it  is  not  with  artillery, 
not  with  shells,  not  with  submarines,  not  with  Zep- 
pelins you  would  have  been  attacked. 

It  is  by  the  methods  and  spirit  of  Germany  grad- 
ually filtering  into  your  brains,  impregnating  invis- 
ibly your  hearts,  and  little  by  little  violating  your 
souls  and  consciences.  That  was  the  hidden  danger, 
the  menace  of  Germany.  You  realized  the  peril,  and 
you  have  risen  to  face  it,  to  fight  a  menace  not  to  you 
alone,  but  to  all  civilization.  Now  all  we  free  men 
are  one  in  will.  The  hour  for  the  liberation  of  all  men 
has  struck  at  last.  All  have  risen  in  arms  in  the  good 
fight,  fought  by  us,  by  our  children,  to  the  bitter  end. 
And  we  will  never  falter  till  victory  crowns  our  aims. 
And  when  in  far-off  days  after  this  war  history  shall 
tell  why  we  fought,  in  days  yet  ringing  with  this 
strife,  long  after  the  voice  of  the  cannon  is  silent,  then 
impartial  history  shall  speak.  It  will  say  why  all  the 
peoples  arose  in  battle,  why  the  free  allied  peoples 
fought.  Not  for  conquest.  They  were  not  nations 
of  prey.  No  morbid  ambitions  lay  festering  in  their 
hearts  and  consciences.  Why  then  did  they  fight? 
To  repel  the  most  brutal  and  insidious  of  aggres- 
sions. They  fought  for  the  respect  of  international 
treaties  trampled  under  foot  by  the  brutal  soldiery 
of  Germany,  they  fought  to  raise  all  the  peoples  of 
the  earth  to  free  breath,  to  the  ideal  of  liberty  for 
aU,  so  that  the  world  might  be  habitable  for  free  men 
— or  to  perish.    And  history  will  add :    They  did  not 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  215 

perish.  They  vanquished.  They  shattered  the  ponder- 
ous sword  that  German  militarism  aimed  against  the 
conscience  and  the  heart  of  all  free  men.  And  thus 
together  we  shall  have  won  the  moral  victory  and  a 
material  one.  It  is  that  dawn  I  greet,  that  hour  of 
fate  I  bow  my  head  before.  May  the  soul  of  Wash- 
ington inspire  our  souls ;  may  the  great  shade  of  Lin- 
coln rise  from  its  shroud.  We  are  all  resolved  to 
battle  till  the  end  for  the  deliverance  of  humanity, 
the  deliverance  of  democracy.  Rise  then,  brother 
citizens,  and  lift  your  brows  to  the  level  of  your 
flag. 

When  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  left  the  Waldorf 
at  11 :30  that  night  their  appearance  on  the  street  was  again 
marked  by  great  cheers  from  a  crowd  which  still  com- 
pletely filled  all  spaces.  Scores  of  secret  service  men  and 
detectives  were  there  keeping  close  watch.  It  was  twenty 
minutes  to  twelve  when  they  entered  the  waiting  room  at 
the  Grand  Central  station,  still  surrounded  by  secret  ser- 
vice men.  Here  they  held  an  animated  conversation  for 
several  minutes,  at  the  close  of  which  they  embraced  each 
other  with  a  kiss  on  each  cheek  and  then  went  aboard  dif- 
ferent private  cars  on  adjoining  tracks.  Marshal  Joffre 
left  for  Boston  and  M.  Viviani  for  Toronto.  By  a  late 
arrangement,  Boston  was  to  share  with  Ottawa  in  entertain- 
ing the  member  of  the  French  Mission  during  a  two  days' 
period  that  was  originally  set  apart  for  Boston  alone.  M. 
Viviani,  in  accordance  with  this  plan,  went  to  Toronto  and 
Ottawa,  and  was  to  reach  Boston  a  day  later.  Marshal 
Joffre  meanwhile,  after  a  day  in  Boston,  was  to  go  to 
Montreal. 


216  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

MB.   BALFOUR   AT  THE   CHAMBER  OF   COMMERCE 

Next  day,  before  more  than  a  thousand  members  and 
guests  of  the  New  York  Chamber  of  Commerce,  gathered  at 
noon  in  the  Assembly  Room  of  the  institution,  Mr.  Balfour 
declared  that  it  had  been  a  dream  of  his  life  that  the  two 
"English-speaking,  freedom-loving  branches  of  the  human 
race"  might  be  drawn  closer  together  and  the  causes  of  old 
differences  between  them  seen  in  their  true  and  just  propor- 
tions. His  address,  as  were  two  he  had  made  on  the  pre- 
vious day,  was  delivered  in  a  voice  disturbed  with  emotion 
and  marked  by  hesitant  gropings  for  phrases  to  give  exact 
and  adequate  expression  to  his  feelings.  He  addressed  him- 
self to  Americans,  not  as  foreigners,  nor  yet  as  men  all 
sprung  from  British  origins,  but  as  joint  heirs  with  modem 
Britons  of  the  traditions  of  a  great  social  and  political 
past.  Introduced  by  the  President  of  the  Chamber,  Mr. 
Eugene  H.  Outerbridge,  Mr.  Balfour  spoke  as  follows: 

The  noble  words  to  which  we  have  just  listened 
struck,  I  am  well  convinced,  a  sympathetic  chord  in 
the  heart  of  every  one  in  your  audience,  but  I  don't 
think  that  in  all  the  multitude  gathered  here  to-day 
there  was  one  to  whom  they  went  more  home  than 
to  myself.  Mr.  President,  I  have  had  as  the  dream 
of  my  life  a  hope  that  before  I  died  the  union  be- 
tween the  English-speaking,  freedom-loving  branches 
of  the  human  race  should  be  drawn  far  closer  than 
in  the  past,  and  that  all  temporary  causes  of  differ- 
ence which  may  ever  have  separated  two  great  peoples 
would  be  seen  in  its  true  and  just  proportion,  and 
that  we  should  all  realize,  on  whatever  side  of  the 
Atlantic    fortune    had    placed    us,    that    the    things 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  217 

wherein  we  have  differed  in  the  past  sink  into  abso- 
lute insignificance  compared  with  those  vital  agree- 
ments which  at  all  times,  but  never  at  such  a  time 
as  the  present,  unite  us  in  one  great  spiritual  whole. 

My  friend  Mr.  Choate  in  a  speech  that  he  delivered 
yesterday  at  the  City  Hall  told  his  audience  that  as 
Ambassador  to  Great  Britain  he  had  been  in  close 
official  relations  with  me  through  many  years,  and 
that  during  all  of  these  years  I  had  stood  solid — I 
think  that  was  his  phrase — for  American  friendship. 
That  is  strictly  and  absolutely  true,  and  the  feelings 
that  I  have  this  great  opportunity  of  expressing  are 
not  bom,  believe  me,  of  the  necessities  of  the  great 
war;  they  are  not  the  offspring  of  recent  events; 
they  are  based  upon  my  most  enduring  convictions, 
convictions  of  which  I  cannot  remember  the  begin- 
ning, which  I  have  held  with  unalterable  fidelity 
through  a  political  life  which  is  now  a  long  life,  and 
which,  I  am  quite  sure,  I  shall  cherish  to  the  end. 

You,  Mr.  President,  have  referred  to  the  prepara- 
tions that  were  made  only,  I  suppose,  a  little  more 
than  two  years  and  a  half  ago — though  how  long 
those  two  and  a  half  years  seem  to  all  of  us ! — prepa- 
rations that  were  made  two  and  a  half  years  ago  to 
celebrate  the  one  hundred  years  of  peace  between  our 
two  countries.  I  ardently  supported  that  movement, 
and  yet  the  very  phrases  in  which  its  objects  were 
expressed  show  how  inadequate  it  was  to  reach  the 
real  truth  and  heart  of  the  matter.  It  is  true  that 
one  hundred  years  have  passed,  and  many  hundreds 
of  years,  I  hope,  were  to  pass,  before  any  overt  act 


218  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

of  war  should  divide  those  whom,  as  you  said  in  youp 
final  words,  should  never  be  asunder.  But,  after  all, 
normal  and  official  peace  is  but  a  small  thing  com- 
pared with  that  intimate  mutual  comprehension  which 
ought  always  to  bind  the  branches  of  the  English- 
speaking  peoples  together.  You  have  absorbed  in  your 
midst  many  admirable  citizens  drawn  from  all  parts 
of  Europe,  whom  American  institutions  and  Amer- 
ican ways  of  thought  have  molded  and  are  molding 
into  one  great  people.  I  rejoice  to  think  it  should 
be  so.  A  similar  process  on  a  smaller  scale  is  going 
on  in  the  self-governing  dominions  of  the  British  Em- 
pire. It  is  a  good  process ;  it  is  a  noble  process.  Let 
us  never  forget  that  wherever  be  the  place  in  which 
that  great  and  beneficent  process  is  going  on,  whether 
it  be  in  Canada,  whether  it  be  in  Australia,  or  whether 
on  the  largest  scale  of  all  it  be  in  the  United  States 
of  America,  the  spirit  which  the  immigrant  absorbs 
is  a  spirit  in  all  these  places  largely  due  to  a  his- 
toric past  in  which  your  forefathers  and  my  fore- 
fathers, gentlemen,  all  had  their  share. 

You  incidentally  mentioned,  Mr.  President,  that 
this  very  body  I  am  addressing  dates  the  origin  of 
its  society  to  a  charter,  I  think  you  said,  of  1768.  Is 
not  that  characteristic  and  symbolic  of  what  happens 
on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic?  We  strike  out  roots 
into  a  distant  past.  We  have  known  how  through 
revolutions,  in  spite  of  revolutions,  sometimes  because 
of  revolutions,  and  through  revolutions,  we  have 
known  how  to  weld  the  past  and  the  present  into  one 
organic  whole,  and  I  see  around  me  in  a  country 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  219 

which  calls  itself  and  is,  in  one  sense,  a  new  country 
— I  everywhere  see  signs  of  these  roots  which  draw 
their  nourishment  and  their  strength  from  epochs  far 
removed  from  us,  and  I  feel  when  I  talk  to  those  who 
are  born  and  bred  under  the  American  flag,  who  have 
absorbed  all  their  political  ideas  from  American  in- 
stitutions— I  feel,  and  I  think  I  speak  for  my  friends 
here  that  they  also  feel — I  feel  that  I  am  speaking 
to  those  brought  up,  as  it  were,  under  one  influence, 
in  one  house,  under  one  set  of  educational  conditions. 
I  require  no  explanations  of  what  they  think,  and  I 
am  required  to  give  no  explanations  of  what  I  think, 
because  our  views  of  great  questions  seem  to  be 
shared ;  born,  as  it  were,  of  common  knowledge  which 
we  know  instinctively,  and  which  we  do  not  require 
explicitly  to  expound  or  to  define. 

This  is  a  great  heritage  to  have  in  common,  and  I 
think,  nay,  I  am  sure,  that  you,  Mr.  President,  struck? 
a  true  note  when  you  told  us  that  all  the  sentiments 
which  I  have  imperfectly  tried  to  express  this  after- 
noon will  receive  a  double  significance,  an  infinitely 
increased  significance,  from  the  fact  that  we  are  now 
not  merely  sharing  a  common  political  ideal  in  some 
speculative  fashion,  but  that  all  of  us  are  committed 
to  sacrificing  everything  that  we  hold  most  dear  to 
carry  these  ideals  into  practical  execution.  There  will 
be  a  bond  of  union  between  our  peoples  which  noth- 
ing will  ever  be  able  to  shake,  and  which  I  believe  to 
be  the  securest  guarantee  for  the  future  of  the  world, 
for  the  future  peace  and  freedom  of  the  world. 

You  have  referred,  Mr.  President,  in  most  eloquent 


220  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

terms,  to  the  services  which  at  this  moment  the  British 
fleet  were  conferring  not  merely  upon  those  who  have 
been  our  allies  since  the  war  began,  but  upon  you 
who  spoke  to-day  for  the  most  recent  but  the  greatest 
ally  of  all. 

I  think  I  may  say  that  on  the  whole  in  looking 
back  through  many  generations  in  which  the  British 
fleet  has  carried  out  a  glorious  tradition,  I  may  say 
that  on  the  whole  its  power  has  been  exercised  in 
the  cause  of  humanity,  in  the  cause  of  freedom.  Who 
will  venture  to  justify  everything,  every  act,  in  the 
long  history  of  an  ancient  nation?  Certainly  not  I. 
I  speak  merely  of  the  broad  outline  of  our  naval  his- 
tory, and  I  say  that  if  you  look  through  that  history 
you  will  find  on  the  whole,  and  unmistakably,  that  the 
British  sailor  has  not  merely  been  using  his  discipline 
power  in  the  cause  of  freedom  and  for  the  protection 
of  small  nations,  but  that  he  has  used  that  power  with 
humanity. 

Does  anybody  think  that  if  the  sea  power  were 
transferred  from  British  to  German  hands  that  the 
historian  of  the  future  could  say  the  same  of  the 
German  fleet?  By  their  fruits  we  know  them.  De- 
liberately brought  into  existence  in  the  hope  that  it 
would  break  down  that  naval  power  which  the  Ger- 
man autocracy — not  the  German  people,  but  the  Ger- 
many autocracy — recognizes  as  one  of  the  greatest 
bulwarks  of  freedom,  and  one  of  the  most  powerful 
defenses  against  world  domination,  knowing  that  in- 
stinctively, they  have  been  feverishly  building  for 
eighteen  or  twenty  years  in  order  that,  if  it  might 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  221 

be  so,  they  could  destroy  the  country  with  which  they 
had  no  quarrel,  and  no  cause  of  quarrel,  but  which 
they  regarded  with  an  instinctive  and  unalterable 
jealousy.  They  have  been  disappointed.  Their  fleet 
remains  safely  in  the  harbor. 

What  puts  out  to  sea  is  not  the  battleship  or  the 
battle  cruiser ;  there  is  no  successor  of  the  great  fleets 
of  ancient  times;  but  the  submarine  which,  in  their 
hands,  finds  its  natural  prey  in  the  destruction  of 
defenseless  merchantmen  and  the  butchery  of  the  de- 
fenseless women  and  children.  I  will  do  the  German 
fleet  the  justice  to  say  that  I  do  not  believe  that  this 
was  its  ideal  when  this  war  started,  or  when  its  ships 
were  under  construction.  WTiat  I  do  say  is  that  the 
use  which  the  German  governing  classes  are  now  mak- 
ing of  this  new  weapon,  while  it  will  never  decide 
the  issue  of  this  war,  nevertheless  indicates  a  menace 
to  the  future  commerce  of  the  world  which  must  be 
absolutely  stopped  for  the  future.  Under  the  old 
maritime  laws,  which  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain  in  particular  have  always  recognized,  fleets 
undoubtedly  did  interfere  with  the  commerce  of  any 
enemy  belligerents,  and  it  is  very  difficult  to  see  how 
that  could  or  ought  to  be  avoided  until  that  happy 
time  comes  when  war  is  neither  on  land  nor  sea  per- 
mitted to  interfere  with  private  rights,  or  indeed  per- 
mitted to  go  on  at  all. 

But,  gentlemen,  maritime  warfare  as  it  has  been 
carried  on  by  civilized  nations  in  the  past  has  been 
a  human  affair,  carried  out  under  recognized  laws, 
under  which  as  little  injury  was  done  to  the  neutral 


222  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

trader  as  was  possible  under  the  circumstances,  com- 
pared to  the  abominations  which  are  now  insistent 
upon  by  the  German  staff.  Huge  tracts  of  ocean  are 
marked  out  at  the  arbitrary  will  of  one  belligerent, 
and  within  these  vast  areas  neutrals,  peaceable  trad- 
ers, do  not  merely  have  their  ships  taken  in,  adjudged 
in  the  prize  court,  dealt  with,  and  non-belligerent  life 
carefully  regarded,  but  they  are  sunk  at  sea,  no  ex- 
amination, no  knowledge  of  what  is  in  the  ship,  no 
knowledge  of  the  character  of  the  crew,  no  knowledge 
of  whether  there  are  or  are  not  passengers  aboard, 
no  knowledge  of  the  goods  which  are  being  trans- 
ported, of  the  place  from  which  they  came  or  the 
destination  designed.  That,  gentlemen,  is  carrying 
out  the  methods  of  barbarism  and  in  a  manner  which 
would  have  been  regarded  as  incredible  even  in  Ger- 
many two  years  ago.  It  has  been  carried  out  by  a 
Government  which,  when  it  thought  worth  while  for 
diplomatic  reasons,  was  never  wearied  of  talking  of 
the  freedom  of  the  seas. 

But  it  is  a  method  of  conducting  warfare  which 
in  its  indirect  consequences,  as  well  as  its  direct  con- 
sequences, is  of  such  a  character  that  the  civilized 
world  must,  when  this  war  is  over,  take  effectual  pre- 
cautions against  its  repetition.  For,  if  not,  it  seems 
to  me  that,  whenever  two  countries  go  to  war  and 
whenever  it  suits  the  least  scrupulous  of  the  bel- 
ligerents, not  merely  will  a  great  wrong  have  been 
inflicted  upon  its  opponent,  but  the  commerce  of  the 
whole  civilized  world  will  be  disorganized  and  de- 
stroyed.    That  is  impossible  to  tolerate.     And  this 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  223 

Chamber  has  under  its  guardianship  the  interests  of 
the  trade  and  commerce,  and  it  is  of  all  bodies  the 
one  most  interested  in  seeing  that  if  in  so  long  as 
wars  are  still  permitted — and  I  hope  that  will  not 
be  long — maritime  warfare  shall  be  conducted  under 
methods  consistent  with  public  law,  consistent  with 
ordinary  humanity,  consistent  with  those  fundamental 
principles  of  morality  which  underlie — or  ought  to 
underlie — all  law.  I  look  to  you,  gentlemen,  to  ex- 
ercise your  great  influence  in  this  great  cause,  and 
I  doubt  not  that  you  will  do  it  effectually. 

Mr.  President,  I  have  already  detained  you  too 
long,  but  there  was  one  word  which  fell  from  you 
toward  the  end  of  your  speech  upon  post-war  prob- 
lems and  you  indicated  your  view— a  view  which  I 
personally  entirely  share — that  when  this  tremendous 
conflict  has  drawn  to  its  appointed  close,  and  when,  as 
I  believe,  victory  shall  have  crowned  our  joint  ef- 
forts, there  will  arise  not  merely  between  nations  but 
within  nations  a  series  of  problems  which  will  tax  all 
our  statesmanship  to  deal  with.  I  look  forward  to  that 
time,  not,  indeed,  wholly  without  anxiety,  but  in  the 
main  with  hope  and  with  confidence ;  and  one  of  the 
reasons  for  that  hope  and  one  of  the  foundations  of 
that  confidence  is  to  be  found  in  the  fact  that  your 
nation  and  my  nation  will  have  so  much  to  do  with 
the  settlement  of  the  questions.  I  do  not  think  any- 
body will  accuse  me  of  being  insensible  to  the  genius 
and  to  the  accomplishments  of  other  nations.  I  am  one 
of  those  who  believe  that  only  in  the  multitude  of 
different  forms  of  culture  can  the  completed  move- 


224  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

ment  of  progress  have  all  the  variety  in  unity  of 
which  it  is  capable ;  and,  while  I  admire  other  cultures, 
and  while  I  recognize  how  absolutely  all  important 
they  are  to  the  future  of  mankind,  I  do  think 
that  among  the  English-speaking  peoples  is  especially 
and  peculiarly  to  be  found  a  certain  political  modera- 
tion in  all  classes  which  gives  one  the  surest  hope 
of  dealing  in  a  reasonable  progressive  spirit  with  so- 
cial and  political  difficulties. 

And  without  that  reasonable  moderation  inter- 
changes are  violent,  and  as  they  are  violent  reactions 
are  violent  also,  and  the  smooth  advance  of  humanity 
is  seriously  interfered  with.  I  believe  that  on  this 
side  of  the  Atlantic,  and  I  hope  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Atlantic,  if  and  when  these  great  problems 
have  actively  to  be  dealt  with,  it  will  not  be  beyond 
the  reach  of  your  statesmanship,  or  of  our  own,  to 
deal  with  them  in  such  a  manner  that  we  cannot  mere- 
ly look  back  upon  this  great  war  as  the  beginning  of 
a  time  of  improved  international  relations,  of  settled 
peace,  of  deliberate  refusal  to  pour  out  oceans  of 
blood  to  satisfy  some  notion  of  domination;  but  that 
in  addition  to  those  blessings  the  war  and  what  hap- 
pens after  the  war  may  prove  to  be  the  beginning  of 
a  revivified  civilization,  which  will  be  felt  in  all  de- 
partments of  human  activity,  which  will  not  merely 
touch  the  material  but  also  the  spiritual  side  of  man- 
kind, and  which  will  make  the  second  decade  of  the 
twentieth  century  memorable  in  the  history  of  man- 
kind. 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  225 

Lord  Cunliffe,  Governor  of  the  Bank  of  England,  then 
said: 

To  you  I  need  not  apologize  for  my  share  in  this 
great  war,  it  having  been  not  that  of  any  of  the 
great  affairs,  but  somewhat — I  was  going  to  say  des- 
pised, but  not  quite  that — ordinary  and  not  very 
much  considered — that  of  arranging  for  the  ways  and 
means.  Here  in  this  great  assemblage  of  business 
men  I  feel  that  I  shall  have  at  any  rate  a  patient 
hearing,  and  not  be  expected  to  attempt  to  popularize 
or  in  any  way  try  to  explain  except  in  a  business 
way,  the  efforts  that  have  so  far  been  made. 

Perhaps  we  might  take  the  ways  and  means,  as 
we  will  call  it,  of  finance  in  three  classes.  Finance 
proper — that  is,  the  collecting  of  the  money,  the  issu- 
ing of  prospectuses  for  the  loans,  and  the  dealing  with 
the  money  that  comes  in.  That  perhaps  has  been  my 
particular  part,  aided  by  the  good  Old  Lady  of 
Threadneedle  Street  that  the  Chairman  has  so  nicely 
alluded  to,  together  with  all  the  officers  there.  Of 
course,  personally,  I  am  not  able  to  do  very  much 
of  it.  That  perhaps  is  the  first  thing.  That  par- 
ticular part  was  rendered  extremely  difficult  by  the 
foreign  exchanges  and  the  care  we  had  to  devote  to 
them.  There  again  those  cares,  I  hope,  have  been 
practically  taken  from  our  shoulders  by  your  great 
nation.  I  say  practically,  but  not  entirely — at  least 
that  is  my  view  of  the  matter.  Certain  people,  great 
financiers,  I  believe,  before  I  left  London,  thought 
that  the  small  committee  called  the  London  Exchange 
Committee,  of  which  I  have  the  honor  to  be  Chair- 


226  BALFOUR,  VIYIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

man,  might  now  be  dissolved;  that  there  would  be 
no  further  need  for  their  services.  I  did  not  agree 
with  that  view,  thinking,  and  I  still  believe,  that 
there  will  be  ample  scope  for  what  talent  they  may 
possess. 

In  my  opinion  London  should  not  now  depend  en- 
tirely on  the  United  States.  They  should  continue, 
as  far  as  they  are  able  and  to  the  end  of  their  bent, 
to  ship  you  gold,  to  sell  you  securities,  and  try  by 
every  means  in  their  power  to  pay  fairly  and  squarely 
the  debts  that  they  have  incurred  in  this  country. 
That  will  at  any  rate  be  my  endeavor,  and  I  think 
that  for  our  own  sakes  it  is  most  important  that  we 
should  strive  as  far  as  possible  to  keep  money  here 
cheap,  in  order  that  we  may  borrow  it  from  you. 
I  was  quite  serious.  Cheap  money  means  good  trade, 
if  it  is  not  too  cheap,  and  although  I  do  not  believe, 
in  a  great  war  like  this,  in  the  saying,  talking  literally 
of  business  as  usual,  I  do  think  that  as  far  as  you 
are  able  and  it  is  possible,  you  should  strive  to  carry 
on  the  great  trade  of  this  country,  again  not  only 
for  your  own  sakes  but  for  ours.  I  will  be  very 
sorry,  as  far  as  our  financial  problems  are  concerned, 
if  we  do  anything  to  reduce  or  curtail  the  trade  of 
this  great  nation.  I  would  return  just  for  one  moment 
to  a  statement  which  I  heard  just  after  the  war  began, 
in  the  House  of  Commons,  where  somebody  in  the 
course  of  a  debate  twitted  Mr.  Lloyd  George,  the  then 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  and  said  that  although 
he  was  complaining  of  his  arduous  duties  as  Chan- 
cellor, he  would  not  like  to  exchange  positions  with 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  227 

the  German  ChanceUor.  Well,  he  accepted  it,  and 
seemed  pleased  that  he  was  not  the  German  Chan- 
cellor, hut  I  am  not  so  sure  but  that  for  the  period 
of  the  war  the  English  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer 
has  more  difficult  problems  to  solve  than  the  German 
Chancellor. 

The  exchange  problem  does  not,  I  fancy,  at  present 
trouble  the  German  Chancellor.  Well,  let  us  wait 
till  after  the  war,  and  then,  I  hope  and  believe,  their 
difficulties  will  be  increased  a  hundredfold  more  than 
ours. 

I  was  greatly  honored  by  my  Government  in  being 
allowed  to  come  out  here.  It  has  been  the  dream  of 
many  months  that  I  should  come  to  the  States  and  see 
the  people  of  whom  I  had  heard  so  much.  I  was  sent 
here,  as  you  all  know  by  this  time,  not  for  my  power 
of  making  addresses  and  speeches,  but  because  it  was 
considered  that  perhaps  I  knew  as  much  of  the  inner 
workings  of  our  financial  efforts  in  London  as  any 
one  else,  and  might  be  as  able  to  answer  questions 
and  explain  what  we  had  been  doing  as  any  of  my 
neighbors. 

I  arrived  in  Washington  just  before  the  taking  in 
by  the  Federal  Reserve  Bank  of  this  vast  $200,000,000 
a  fortnight  ago.  They  were  good  enough  to  go 
through  with  me  the  means  they  had  taken,  not 
only  to  withdraw  that  money  from  the  market 
but  to  replace  it  on  the  market  without  delay. 
Gentlemen,  the  arrangements  were  so  complete  that 
I  had  not  a  word  or  a  hint  of  a  suggestion  to 
give.    It  proves  how  extraordinarily  complete  those 


228  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

arrangements  were  that  the  money  rate  here  in  New 
York  in  the  morning  was  2  per  cent,  in  the  middle 
of  the  day  it  rose  to  4  per  cent,  and  in  the  evening 
it  went  back  to  2%  per  cent.  What  more  splendid 
financial  transaction  could  be  accomplished? 

I  have  just  returned  from  a  visit  to  the  Middle 
West,  where  I  have  interviewed  and  talked  matters 
over  with  prominent  bankers  and  other  men,  and 
on  every  hand  I  found  them  only  too  anxious  to  do 
everything  in  their  power  to  facilitate  the  enormous 
loans  which  you  are  asking  for,  and  of  which  I  hope 
you  will  give  us  a  part.  Everywhere  they  are  get- 
ting up  committees,  arranging  for  extra  clerks,  taking 
additional  floor  space,  and  doing  everything  that 
after  my  experience  I  could  possibly  have  suggested. 
Indeed,  from  that  point  of  view,  my  visit  to  the 
Middle  West  has  been  an  absolute  failure.  I  have 
been  of  no  use  to  anybody,  and  I  am  afraid  I  shall 
have  to  say  the  same  when  I  leave  New  York.  You 
all  seem  to  be  thoroughly  alive  and  prepared  with- 
out any  suggestions  from  me.  I  hope  my  Government 
when  I  get  home  will  not  ask  me  any  pertinent  ques- 
tions such  as:  **Have  you  been  of  any  good  to  any- 
body ?'' 

Gentlemen,  we  turn  to  the  second  part  of  the  war. 
We  divide  the  war  into  three  portions.  That  is,  the 
fighting  element,  or,  as  we  put  it,  the  glorious  spend- 
ing element.  It  is  glorious  spending.  We  have  got 
to  find  the  money  for  it.  They  have  to  bear  the  kicks, 
the  blows,  the  wounds,  and  perhaps  even  death.  We 
don^t  grudge  them  the  money.    We  have  to  put  up 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  22^ 

with  smaller  incomes,  with  much  more  work,  and 
with  much  labor.  But  that  is  nothing.  The  army 
and  the  navy  must  be  first.  They  must  be  the  ones 
first  to  be  considered.  They  must  also  be  the  popular 
ones.  After  all,  what  matters?  We  must  live  our 
lives,  we  must  carry  out  what  we  are  here  for,  and 
the  best  we  can  do,  and  we  must  not  grumble.  The 
third  part,  I  am  thankful  to  say,  I  have  nothing 
whatever  to  do  with.  Questions  have  been  put  to  me 
since  I  landed  here  on  the  subject,  namely,  what  taxes 
should  be  levied?  How  the  taxes  should  be  levied? 
I  am  thankful  to  say  that  I  have  nothing  to  do  with 
that,  for  the  Governor  of  the  Bank  of  England  is 
not  even  consulted  in  such  matters. 

Now,  I  am  afraid  I  have  delayed  you  a  long  time, 
but  I  would  make  this  remark,  gentlemen:  Do  not 
fall  into  the  error  which  we  did  at  home  of  under- 
rating our  foe.  I  am  afraid  we  did  so  at  the  begin- 
ning. Financially,  I  am  certain  that  we  did.  Our 
foe  was  well  prepared.  They  had  all  their  economics 
well  cut  out,  planned,  and  everything  ready,  meat 
tickets  and  bread  tickets.  If  we  had  only  taken  the 
thing  boldly  up  during  the  first  few  months  of  the 
war  we  should  be  in  a  vastly  better  position  to-day. 
Of  course,  the  same  thing  does  not  apply  to  you  here 
in  America,  because  you  support  yourselves  and  more 
than  support  yourselves  with  foodstuffs  and  the  other 
necessaries  of  life.  We  have  to  buy  it  all  from  you 
and  from  other  countries. 

Therefore,  it  is  very  much  more  important  for  us 
to  economize  than  for  you.    Still  I  would  venture  to 


230  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

remind  you  that  nobody  knows  how  long  this  war  is 
to  continue,  and  that  if  you  are  to  put  up  the  notice 
*' business  as  usual,"  I  would  suggest  that  extrava- 
gances should  not  be  as  usual.  If  by  any  lucky  chance 
the  economies  are  not  needed  and  the  war  should  come 
to  an  end  very  soon,  how  easy  will  it  be  to  slip  back 
into  the  old  way  and  the  old  luxuries. 

Gentlemen,  as  a  great  statesman  or  diplomatist  al- 
ways has  to  gage  the  minds,  the  feelings,  the  hearts 
of  the  people  that  he  has  to  deal  with  and  the  country 
to  which  he  is  accredited,  I  think  it  will  be  for  all 
really  intelligent  business  men  to  try  to  gage  the 
feelings  of  their  clients  and  those  with  whom  they 
come  into  contact.  From  the  beginning  of  this  war 
I  tried  to  gage  the  American  mind,  that  sooner  or 
later  we  should  all  be  together.  At  times  when  that 
awful  bugbear,  the  ''exchange"  was  going  against  us, 
and  I  hardly  knew  what  to  hope,  I  must  say  that 
there  were  times  when  I  asked  myself,  Could  I  be 
wrong?  Could  I  have  wrongly  gaged  the  American 
heart?  No,  gentlemen,  I  am  thankful  that  I  was 
right;  that  we  are  here  and  here  we  are  to  remain, 
not  only  the  business  people,  but  our  soldiers  and 
sailors,  fighting  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  one  great 
object,  namely,  to  bring  this  terrible  war  to  a  glorious 
and  definite  termination. 

After  the  meeting,  the  guests  of  honor  were  taken  into 
the  library  of  the  Chamber,  where  they  gathered  about  a 
horseshoe  table  with  the  officers  and  had  luncheon.  At  the 
close  of  the  meal  Mr.  Balfour  was  asked  for  a  few  words 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  231 

more  "before  he  comes  back  after  the  war  is  won."    Mr. 
Balfour  said: 

The  reception  which  we  have  received  here  has 
not  merely  surpassed  our  expectations,  but  has  been 
positively  amazing.  It  was  not  the  external  features 
which  so  much  impressed  us  as  the  spontaneous  ex- 
hibition of  feeling  from  the  Mayor  down  to  the  most 
humble  citizen.  We  had  some  hesitating  doubt  as  to 
the  feeling  entertained  for  us  in  this  country ;  thought 
that  perhaps  we  had  a  more  profound  regard  for  the 
people  of  the  United  States  than  your  people  had  for 
us.  If  that  condition  existed,  it  exists  no  longer.  I 
shall  go  back  to  England  and  tell  of  my  reception 
here,  and  my  only  fear  is  that  perhaps  I  have  not 
sufficient  capacity  to  tell  it  completely.  I  shall  tell 
them  that  this  great  republic  is  not  only  warmly  but 
passionately  on  the  side  of  the  Allies.  I  believe  now 
that  the  people  of  America  realize  that  since  August 
1,  1914,  the  fight  in  which  we  have  been  engaged  has 
been  for  the  highest  spiritual  advantage  of  mankind, 
without  a  petty  or  mean  thought  or  ambition — a  fight 
for  the  cause  of  civilization. 

Mr.  Outerbridge  then  called  on  Mr.  Choate  to  "pronounce 
the  benediction."  As  Mr.  Choate  rose  three  cheers  were 
proposed  by  George  T.  Wilson,  for  "Mr.  Choate,  the  man 
who  has  cut  up  like  a  two-year-old  for  the  last  few  days." 
After  the  cheers  had  been  given,  Mr.  Choate  protested  that 
he  had  no  more  speeches  left  "in  his  reservoir."  He  man- 
aged, however,  to  give  some  humorous  reminiscences  of  his 
experiences  as  Ambassador  at  the  Court  of  St.  James,  along 
with  praise  of  certain  features  of  English  character. 


232  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Mr.  Balfour,  in  returning  to  Vincent  Astor's  home,  where 
he  went  to  rest  till  7:30,  stopped  on  the  way  to  visit  the 
observation  platform  of  the  Woolworth  tower,  escorted  by- 
Mayor  Mitchel,  Cass  Gilbert,  the  architect  of  the  building; 
Major  General  Daniel  Appleton,  Sir  Cecil  Spring-Rice,  the 
British  Ambassador,  and  Dock  Commissioner  R.  A.  C. 
Smith.  Police  reserves  kept  back  the  crowds  in  Broadway 
and  Barclay  Street  to  make  a  lane  by  which  the  party 
could  reach  the  entrance  to  the  elevators.  The  speed  of 
the  "lifts"  and  the  mechanical  perfections  of  the  building- 
were  a  source  of  marvel  to  the  visitors,  who  had  everything 
about  the  building  explained  to  them  by  Mr.  Gilbert,  and 
the  view  from  the  top  by  Mayor  Mitchel. 

Mr.  Balfour  went  that  evening  to  the  house  of  Mr. 
Choate,  where  dinner  was  served  to  fifteen  guests.  Among 
the  guests  were  Nicholas  Murray  Butler  and  Henri  Bergson, 
the  French  philosopher.  In  Mr.  Choate's  library  after  the 
dinner  Mr.  Balfour  and  M.  Bergson,  at  Mr.  Choate's  re- 
quest, talked  of  the  immortality  of  the  soul. 

MR.    BALFOUR   AT    A   RED    CROSS    BENEFIT 

Late  that  night  Mr.  Balfour,  in  Carnegie  Hall,  spoke  to 
an  audience  that  packed  the  place  from  parquet  to  the 
upper  gallery,  an  audience  in  which  were  many  leading  citi- 
zens of  New  York  and  other  parts  of  the  country.  The 
cheers  that  greeted  him  started  a  demonstration  that  lasted 
a  full  minute.  The  occasion  was  a  benefit  for  the  British 
Red  Cross,  given  under  the  auspices  of  the  American  Com- 
mittee of  the  society.  Days  before  every  seat  in  the  house 
had  been  sold,  some  of  the  boxes  bringing  as  high  as  $1,000, 
while  seats  in  the  parquet  sold  at  $10  and  those  in  other 
parts  of  the  house  at  proportionately  high  prices.  It  was 
estimated  that  the  British  Red  Cross  gained  somewhere 
between  $50,000  and  $100,000  from  the  benefit.    Mr.  Bal- 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  233 

four  was  one  of  the  patrons,  and  among  the  others  were  his 
colleagues  on  the  British  Commission.  A  more  enthusiastic 
audience  never  assembled  in  Carnegie  Hall.  At  every  men- 
tion of  the  allies  and  their  cause  a  demonstration  ensued. 
When  moving  pictures  showing  the  actual  iBghting  on  the 
River  Ancre  in  France  and  the  famous  "tanks"  in  action, 
were  thrown  on  the  screen,  the  audience  "went  wild."  The 
pictures  were  official,  having  been  taken  for  the  British 
Government. 

Mr.  Balfour  did  not  arrive  until  11  o^clock,  when  he 
entered  with  Mr.  Choate.  A  box  in  the  eastern  tier  near 
the  stage  had  been  reserved  for  him.  His  appearance  was 
the  signal  for  a  great  ovation.  Mme.  Alda  was  singing 
"Rule  Britannia"  when  he  came  in.  As  she  finished,  a 
large  American,  and  then  a  British,  flag  were  waved  high 
over  her  head.  Mr.  Balfour  was  among  the  first  to  stand  up 
and  join  in  the  applause  that  followed.  He  again  became 
one  of  the  leaders  in  a  demonstration  which  followed  the 
singing  by  Mme.  Alda  of  "The  Star  Spangled  Banner." 
In  the  speech  that  he  made  from  his  box,  Mr.  Balfour  took 
occasion  to  refer  gratefully  to  the  generous  welcome  which 
had  been  accorded  himself  and  the  other  members  of  the 
commission  by  the  people  who  had  crowded  the  streets  of 
New  York  and  cheered  them  at  every  public  appearance 
they  had  made.  These  cheers,  he  said,  would  remain  always 
one  of  their  most  cherished  memories.  He  referred  to  the 
part  America  was  to  play  in  the  great  war,  but  went  into 
no  details,  confining  himself  to  generalities.  There  was  a 
sincere  and  grateful  ring  to  his  words.  No  one  in  that  vast 
audience  had  any  doubt  of  the  knowledge  of  conditions  that 
lay  back  of  what  he  was  saying: 

What  I  have  seen  in  New  York  yesterday  and 
to-day  is  something  that  none  of  ns  who  has  come 


234  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

from  over  the  seas  will  ever  forget.  The  wholehearted 
sympathy  on  the  part  of  every  one,  the  expressions 
of  welcome,  so  warm  and  so  sincere,  the  genuineness 
of  the  good  will  expressed  for  the  cause  of  the  Allies 
and  for  the  part  of  Britain  in  that  cause,  not  only  on 
the  part  of  those  we  have  met  at  great  gatherings 
such  as  this,  but  by  the  splendid  people  who  have 
cheered  us  in  the  streets  as  well,  will  never  be  for- 
gotten by  us. 

This  great  gathering  to-night  is  but  another  ex- 
pression of  what  is  to-day  taking  place  here  which,  in 
my  opinion,  constitutes  one  of  the  most  glorious  epi- 
sodes in  the  history  of  international  relations.  Amer- 
ica is  throwing  herself  wholeheartedly  into  this  strug- 
gle to  help  us  in  every  way  possible  on  land  and  sea. 
America  is  also  giving  us  something  else,  which  in 
many  respects  is  of  even  greater  value  and  more  per- 
manent. I  refer  to  her  sympathy  and  her  love.  You 
are  struggling  with  us,  not  only  for  your  own  country, 
but  for  the  freedom  of  the  whole  world,  and  in  this 
cause  we  shall  continue  fighting  until  success  is 
achieved. 

I  do  not  know  whether  the  memory  of  this  hour 
will  live  in  the  minds  of  this  audience  or  not.  But 
the  memory  of  these  last  few  hours  has  been  firmly 
impressed  upon  the  minds  of  the  visiting  commission. 
This  linking  together  of  the  two  English-speaking 
countries  creates  happiness  not  only  for  the  present 
generation,  but  happiness  for  the  generations  yet  un- 
born. I  wish  to  thank  the  performers — ^to  thank  you 
all — for  your  own  sympathy  with  our  cause,  and  the 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  235 

manifestation  of  your  patriotic  sympathy  which  itself 
assures  a  final  success  for  our  cause. 

AT  THE  CATHEDRAL  OF  ST.  JOHN  THE  DIVINE  AND  AT 
SAGAMORE   HILL 

Standing  beneath  entwined  British  and  American  flags 
at  the  Cathedral  of  St.  John  the  Divine  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing, May  13,  the  Episcopal  Bishop  of  the  Philippines,  in 
the  presence  of  Mr.  Balfour,  other  members  of  the  British 
Commission  and  Mr.  Choate,  pledged  America  to  fight  for 
world  democracy.  Mr.  Balfour  and  those  with  him  sat  in  a 
section  especially  reserved  within  full  sight  of  2,200  per- 
sons. They  beheld  above  them,  in  the  lofty  dome,  flags  of 
the  allied  nations,  heard  Great  Britain  eulogized  as  having 
gone  to  France  to  "save  the  fate  of  the  world,"  listened  to 
a  prayer  for  King  George  V,  and  heard  the  organ  blend 
with  more  than  2,000  voices  in  singing  "God  Save  the 
King*'  and  "America."  After  this  service  Mr.  Balfour  and 
Mr.  Choate  said  their  farewells  to  one  another.  Mr. 
Choate's  last  words,  often  recalled  two  days  later,  when 
his  death  was  announced,  were  "Remember,  we  shall  meet 
again  to  celebrate  the  victory." 

Late  in  the  afternoon  Mr.  Balfour  paid  a  four-hour 
visit  to  Colonel  Roosevelt  at  Sagamore  Hill,  staying  for 
tea.  The  trip  was  the  result  of  an  invitation  given  by 
Colonel  Roosevelt  at  the  Mayor^s  dinner  at  the  Waldorf. 
Mr.  Balfour  was  escorted  to  the  city  limits  by  motor  cycle 
policemen  and  thence  all  the  way  to  and  from  Oyster  Bay 
by  three  cars  full  of  Secret  Service  men.  At  Sagamore 
Hill  Colonel  Roosevelt  took  him  for  a  walk  over  his  estate, 
which  was  bright  with  the  green  of  spring.  At  the  evening 
meal  the  only  other  man  was  the  Colonel's  son,  Quentin, 
who  had  just  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  aviation  corps  of 


236  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

the  regular  army.  Mr.  Balfour  left  about  10  o'clock,  the 
Colonel  waving  him  a  good-by  from  the  veranda.  In  New 
York  he  drove  direct  to  the  Pennsylvania  station  to  join 
other  members  of  his  party  on  board  a  special  train  leaving 
for  Washington  at  midnight. 

THE  PRINCE   OF   UDINE  IN   NEW  YORK 

When  the  Italian  Mission  came  to  New  York,  on  June 
11,  it  found  itself  in  a  city  which  had  a  greater  Italian 
population  than  Genoa,  Florence,  Venice  or  Messina.  The 
largest  of  these  cities,  Genoa,  had  a  population  in  1911 
of  272,000,  but  there  were  now  in  New  York  341,000  Italian- 
born  people,  or  the  same  number  as  Palermo  had  in  1911, 
when  Naples  had  723,000,  Milan  599,000,  Rome  543,000, 
Turin  427,000,  no  other  Italian  city  outranking  New  York. 
American  eyes  had  followed  with  wonder,  almost  with  in- 
credulity, the  deeds  of  the  Italian  army  in  this  war.  It  had 
had  to  fight  against  three  allies,  Austria,  Germany  and 
nature.  These  Romans  of  our  day  had  performed  feats  in 
war  which  the  ancient  Romans  had  never  surpassed.  It 
was  with  Italy  as  with  France.  The  world,  which  had 
visualized  France  as  a  volatile  nation,  had  been  dumb- 
founded to  see  in  her  all  the  virtues  which  had  been  sup- 
posed to  be  specifically  characteristic  of  more  sober  na- 
tions— ^gravity,  silence,  determination,  method — and  the  same 
virtues  had  been  displayed  in  equal  measure  by  Italy,  which 
also  had  been  visualized  as  a  pleasure-loving  nation.  Italy 
fought  to  redeem  imprisoned  peoples  who  had  been  torn 
from  their  motherland  by  Austria,  just  as  France  fought 
to  redeem  those  who  had  been  taken  captive  by  Germany. 
Italy's  object  in  this  war  was  freedom  for  the  territory 
comprising  Italia  Irredenta.* 

*The  New  York  Times. 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  237 

The  Italian  commissioners  reached  New  York  in  the 
afternoon,  landing  at  the  Battery,  where  the  crowd  was 
almost  as  numerous  and  no  less  enthusiastic  than  those 
which  had  welcomed  the  French  and  British  Commissions 
at  the  same  place.  Despite  the  shortage  of  bunting  made 
up  into  the  national  colors  of  Italy,  there  was  a  plentiful 
display  of  Italian  flags,  particularly  in  Fifth  Avenue,  above 
Thirty-fourth  Street.  On  the  way  up  from  the  Battery 
to  the  City  Hall  in  the  first  car  rode  the  Prince  of  Udine,  in 
dark  blue  naval  uniform;  Dr.  Nicholas  Murray  Butler, 
Lieutenant  di  Zara,  the  Prince's  naval  aide,  and  Theodore 
Rousseau,  secretary  to  the  Mayor.  In  another  automobile 
was  the  Marquis  Macchio  di  Celere,  the  Italian  Ambassa- 
dor. The  party  crossed  Battery  Place  and  turned  up 
Broadway  through  a  continuing  tumult  of  cheering  from 
crowds  grouped  in  masses  on  the  curb,  blocking  the  door- 
ways of  great  office  buildings,  jammed  on  the  steps  of  the 
Custom  House  and  leaning  from  every  window  of  tall  build- 
ings. As  the  Prince's  car  came  in  view  many  Italians  took 
off  their  hats.  The  cheers  that  greeted  him  were  renewed 
again  and  again.  As  the  crowd  passed  the  Equitable  Build- 
ing, some  one  sent  down  a  shower  of  paper  that  looked  like 
confetti.  Streamers  of  ticker  tape  were  flung  into  the  street 
all  the  way  to  the  City  Hall. 

The  preparations  made  in  and  around  the  City  Hall  in 
many  details  were  similar  to  those  made  for  the  French 
and  British  guests.  The  Italian  flag  flew  from  the  City 
Hall  with  the  Stars  and  Stripes  and  Italian  colors  were 
prominent  in  the  Court  of  Honor,  which  had  been  built 
opposite  the  front  of  the  building.  In  this  court  5,000 
school  children,  most  of  them  of  Italian  parentage,  were 
drawn  up.  Around  the  square  on  all  sides  were  crowds, 
blocking  traffic  in  Broadway,  Park  Row  and  Chambers 
Street — men  also  in  skyscraper  windows  on  Broadway  and 


238  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Nassau  Street,  on  the  cornices  and  ledges  of  the  Post  Office, 
in  the  windows  far  up  on  the  sides  of  the  Woolworth 
Building. 

It  was  just  4  o'clock  when  the  head  of  the  procession 
turned  into  City  Hall  Park  and  filed  upstairs  to  the  re- 
ception room,  decorated  in  evergreens,  with  the  Italian  and 
American  flags  draped  at  either  side  of  the  dais  at  the 
eastern  end.  Here  they  were  greeted  by  the  Mayor  and  by 
Guglielmo  Marconi,  who  recalled  that  it  was  just  twenty 
years  before  that  he  first  came  to  the  United  States  to  in- 
terest Americans  in  his  experiment  in  wireless  telegraphy, 
and  by  several  hundred  citizens  who  had  been  invited  by 
the  Mayor.  The  Prince  took  his  stand  alone  on  the  dais 
where  Marshal  Joffre,  M.  Viviani  and  Mr.  Balfour  had 
stood  a  month  before,  and  received  from  the  Mayor  and 
from  Dr.  Butler  the  greetings  of  New  York  and  New 
Yorkers.  Mayor  MitcheFs  speech  brought  frequent  ap- 
plause, and  particularly  his  reference  to  the  recent  Italian 
victories,  which  stirred  vigorous  cheering  from  his  hearers, 
who  included  most  of  the  leading  Italian  citizens  of  New 
York. 

Then,  as  spokesman  for  what  he  called  "the  unofficial 
citizenship,"  the  Mayor  introduced  Nicholas  Murray  Butler. 
Dr.  Butler,  standing  in  the  place  occupied  a  month  before 
by  Joseph  H.  Choate,  spoke  with  deep  feeling  as  Mayor 
Mitchel  had  done.  He  referred  to  the  happy  coincidence 
that  the  aims  and  interests  in  both  the  old  and  new  coun- 
tries among  Italian-Americans  were  the  same.  There 
were  cheers  when  he  spoke  of  the  Italian  citizens  of 
New  York,  with  their  still  strong  connections  with  the 
Old  World,  as  forming  "an  invisible  bridge  over  which 
ideas  and  accomplishments  come  and  go."  The  Prince  was 
cheered  vigorously  when   Mayor  Mitchel   introduced  him. 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  239 

Responding  with  a  bow  and  smile,  he  drew  from  his  pocket 
a  manuscript  and  read  his  speech  in  excellent  English. 

Mr.  Mayor :  In  my  own  name  and  on  behalf  of  the 
members  of  the  Italian  mission,  I  have  the  honor  to 
thank  you  for  the  welcome  extended  to  us  by  your 
great  city.  During  their  journey  through  the  United 
States  of  America  the  members  of  the  mission  which, 
his  Majesty  the  King  of  Italy  has  sent  to  President 
Wilson  have  been  given  the  most  cordial  reception. 
I  feel  sure  that  the  recollection  of  such  cordiality 
will  remain  forever  in  their  hearts.  As  for  myself, 
an  unfortunate  illness  has  prevented  me  from  accom- 
panying the  mission  when  it  went  to  the  South  and 
to  the  Middle  West.  I  did  not  want,  however,  to  miss 
the  last  part  of  the  journey,  and  I  am  glad  that  I  was 
able  at  least  to  join  my  friends  in  their  visit  to  your 
city. 

The  hospitality  of  New  York  is  enjoyed  by  as  many 
Italians  as  there  are  inhabitants  in  the  largest  of  the 
Italian  cities.  Yours  is  really  the  great  metropolis, 
which,  while  keeping  faithful  to  the  strong  traditions 
of  American  patriotism,  is  assuming  an  always  more 
and  more  universal  character.  We  feel  deeply  moved 
by  your  welcome.  We  know  that  by  expressing  your 
feelings  toward  us  you  are  expressing  your  feeling 
toward  our  country  and  your  appreciation  of  the 
energy,  the  spirit  of  sacrifice  and  of  discipline  shown 
by  Italy  in  the  present  war. 

Nothing  is  more  inspiring  to  those  who  fight  for 
a  great  cause,  who  suffer  for  a  lofty  ideal,  than  broth- 
erly sympathy  expressed  by  friends  who  leave  them 


240  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

and  keep  them  in  high  esteem,  by  friends  whose 
work  they  look  forward  to  with  entire  faith.  You  are 
our  friends  and  we  have  entire  faith  in  your  work. 

The  war  is  becoming  every  day  more  terrible  and 
is  not  yet  nearing  its  end.  "We  must  win  the  war, 
no  matter  what  be  our  sacrifice  and  our  sorrow.  All 
over  America  life  is  intense,  work  and  production  are 
feverish,  but  your  city  symbolizes  the  combinations 
of  every  kind  of  energy.  We  are  sure  that  your 
energies  will  be  fruitful  to  the  purposes  of  the  war. 
At  this  stage  every  day  is  precious,  every  mistake  is 
doubly  dangerous.  As  you  are  endowed  with  such 
a  magnificent  spirit  of  organization,  you  will  surely 
be  able  to  use  it  for  the  most  noble  aims  of  war,  just 
as  you  have  used  it  up  to  now  for  the  most  noble  aims 
of  peace. 

For  the  nations  of  the  Entente  the  great  problems 
of  the  war  are  now  those  connected  with  the  produc- 
tion of  food,  and  above  all  with  shipping.  A  large 
number  of  new  ships  is  what  we  need  now  above 
everything.  Your  enthusiasm  is  a  guarantee  of  vic- 
tory. You  appreciate  the  magnitude  of  the  task  you 
are  confronted  with,  and  you  are  going  to  take  it  up, 
you  are  going  to  reap  new  military  glory,  with  the 
faith  which  your  nation  has  in  its  destinies. 

Mr.  Mayor,  we  consider  the  reception  granted  to  us 
by  New  York,  and  the  sincere  enthusiasm  which  ani- 
mates your  great  city,  not  only  as  a  promise  of  victory, 
but  as  an  omen  of  victory,  and  we  offer  you  and  your 
magnificent  city  the  most  friendly  and  cordial  greet- 
ing. 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  241 

When  the  Prince  had  finished  his  speech,  the  party- 
paused  for  a  moment  to  allow  a  photograph  to  be  taken 
and  then  filed  downstairs  to  where  crowds  which  had  been 
waiting  patiently  for  the  ceremonies  to  end  had  been 
entertained  by  songs  from  school  children  and  music  from 
bands.  A  burst  of  cheers  started  when  the  Prince  and 
his  companions  emerged,  and  continued  as  they  left  the 
eastern  end  of  the  City  Hall  Park,  headed  by  mounted 
police,  and  started  uptown,  making  their  way  through 
crowds  which  if  anything  seemed  larger  than  those  that 
greeted  the  other  Allied  commissioners  in  May.  The  line 
of  march  northward  skirted  the  two  principal  Italian  colo- 
nies of  the  city,  where  every  one  came  out  to  see  the  Prince 
and  his  associates.  From  almost  every  window  floated  the 
tricolor  of  Italy  and  the  American  flag. 

The  procession  passed  up  Centre  Street  to  Lafayette,  and 
thence  to  Fourth  Street.  All  along  the  line  were  the  same 
scenes,  the  same  cheers,  the  same  colors,  the  difference  only 
one  of  degree  and  not  much  of  that.  Perhaps  the  most 
lavish  display  of  flags  appeared  on  the  building  of  the 
Progresso  Italo- Americano,  at  Elm  Street,  but  this  was 
nearly  matched  by  one  on  a  building  at  Spring  Street, 
which  housed  the  Italian  Consulate  General,  the  Italian 
Savings  Bank,  the  Order  of  Sons  of  Italy,  and  other 
organizations. 

At  Fourth  Street  the  party  turned  west  and  drove  to 
Washington  Square.  Here  the  Italian  settlements  south 
of  Washington  Square  had  literally  poured  out  thousands. 
The  masses  along  the  southern  side  of  the  square  and  on 
either  side  of  the  driveway  through  Fourth  Street  to  the 
arch  were,  if  possible,  more  thickly  packed  than  they  were 
downtown.  Here  had  been  set  up  another  court  of  honor, 
with  the  Garibaldi  statue  as  its  center.  Long  blue  ban- 
ners with  the  shields  of  th^  two  nations  hung  from  poles, 


242  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

with  pillars  surrounded  by  clusters  of  palms  and  ever- 
greens. A  semicircle,  of  which  the  chief  color  was  red, 
ornamented  with  a  Blashfield  medallion  and  other  decora- 
tive designs,  rose  behind  the  statue  of  the  Liberator,  who 
is  in  the  act  of  drawing  his  sword.  Crowds  of  school 
children,  and  school  bands,  appeared  in  gorgeous  uni- 
fonns. 

When  the  procession  halted,  the  Prince  and  his  aide 
stepped  out  of  the  first  car.  Mayor  Mitchel  and  the  officer 
mth  him  standing  by  the  curb,  while  the  Prince  laid  a  wreath 
of  evergreens  on  the  pedestal,  saluted,  stood  a  moment  in 
silence  contemplating  the  figure  of  the  man  who  had  played 
the  most  spectacular  part  in  the  unification  of  modern  Italy, 
and  then  turned  back  to  his  car.  After  the  procession 
started  northward,  each  Italian  officer  as  he  passed  saluted 
and  each  civilian  raised  his  hat  before  the  statue.  Each 
lamp  post  bore  a  cluster  of  American  and  Italian  flags. 
Green,  white  and  red  and  medallions  were  seen  everj'where. 
Other  symbolic  designs  were  blazoned  on  banners  at  the 
Court  of  Honor  in  front  of  the  Public  Librarj^  Windows 
were  blocked  with  staring  clerks  and  salespeople  all  along 
the  avenue.  Still  another  crowd  had  gathered  on  the  ter- 
race about  the  fountain  at  the  Plaza.  Hundreds  were 
banked  in  Fifth  Avenue  about  Sixty-first  Street,  where 
the  commission  turned  to  No.  5  East  Sixty-first  Street,  the 
home  of  Pembroke  Jones,  which  had  been  turned  over  for 
their  use  during  their  stay  in  New  York. 

THE   mayor's   dinner   AT    THE   PLAZA 

Mayor  Mitchel  gave  a  dinner  in  the  evening  at  the  Plaza 
to  eighty-five  local  guests,  with  Governor  Whitman  as  the 
chief  speaker.  Streets  about  the  Plaza  and  in  the  square 
around  the  fountain  were  packed  with  a  crowd  as  thick  as 
any  that  had  been  seen  in  lower  Manhattan.     The  decora- 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  243 

tions  made  a  brilliant  scene.  A  band  played  the  Italian 
national  anthem  as  the  guests  passed  into  the  ballroom, 
which  had  been  decorated  as  an  Italian  garden.  The  cheers 
of  the  crowds  outside  were  so  insistent  that  before  the 
Prince  and  his  fellow  commissioners  could  sit  down,  they 
had  to  go  out  to  a  balcony  and  bow  a  greeting  to  the 
crowds  below. 

The  Mayor,  in  introducing  Governor  Whitman  at  the 
close  of  the  dinner,  laid  emphasis  on  the  energy  with  which 
the  State  of  New  York  had  led  the  way  in  preparations  for 
war.  Governor  Whitman  remarked  that  people  of  similar 
aspirations  and  ideals  "never  meet  as  strangers."  Even 
had  the  past  been  without  its  record  of  amity,  "our  present 
common  purpose  would  win  you."  A  very  cordial  welcome 
was  extended  by  him  to  the  commission  on  behalf  of  the 
State.  After  the  Governor's  speech  the  Mayor  called  on  the 
Prince,  whose  remarks  were  preliminary  to  a  toast.  He 
said: 

Mr.  Mayor  and  Mr.  Governor,  I  thank  you  very 
much  for  your  so  kind  welcome.  It  is  a  great  pleasure 
for  me  to  be  able  this  evening  to  say  how  thankful 
I  am  and  how  thankful  all  of  the  commission  are  for 
the  splendid  reception  we  have  had  to-day.  I  am 
pleased  to  express  it  this  evening.  We  have  felt  to- 
day how  the  spirit  of  this  great  town  is  with  us  in 
this  great  struggle,  in  this  great  war  against  autoc- 
racy, this  war  for  liberty,  for  justice.  I  shall  lift  my 
glass  to  the  United  States,  to  the  President,  to  the 
State  of  New  York,  to  the  city  of  New  York,  to 
the  Governor,  to  Mr.  Mayor,  and  to  the  glorious  army 
and  the  glorious  navy  of  the  United  States  that  have 
now  joined  with  us  in  this  great  war. 


244  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Mayor  Mitchel  then  proposed  a  toast  to  the  King  of 
Italy,  with  which  the  dinner  came  to  an  end  and  at  10 
o'clock  the  party  started  for  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of 
Art,  where  the  trustees  were  holding  a  reception.  Again 
the  commissioners  were  cheered  enthusiastically  by  crowds 
still  standing  in  the  Plaza  who  had  waited  all  through  the 
two  hours  and  a  half  of  the  dinner.  A  quick  trip  past 
cheering  crowds  brought  the  whole  party  to  the  museum 
a  little  after  10  o'clock.  There  they  found  outside  proba- 
bly ten  thousand  persons,  and  inside  a  third  or  half  of 
that  number,  filling  the  great  pillared  hall,  packing  the 
balconies  and  clamoring  lustily  for  a  word  from  the  Prince. 

The  persons  inside  included  1,299  members  of  Italian  so- 
cieties— a  gathering  which  embraced  representatives  of 
every  section  of  society,  bankers,  art  patrons,  artists,  art 
students,  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  Allied  countries,  and 
leaders  in  America's  efforts  to  forward  the  progress  of  the 
war  and  of  war  relief  work.  No  attempt  was  made  to  let 
guests  shake  hands  with  members  of  the  commission.  As 
they  had  been  exhausted  by  their  day's  exertions,  coming 
so  soon  after  the  close  of  a  long  trip  in  the  Middle  West, 
they  stayed  only  about  twenty  minutes,  and  then  left  the 
museum  cheered  by  a  crowd  within  and  by  some  thousands 
outside  who  had  gathered  on  the  yellow-lighted  avenue. 
The  Prince  declared  that  the  reception  had  been  "wonder- 
ful, very  wonderful."  He  could  not  adequately  express  his 
gratitude.  Sig-nor  Marconi  observed:  "The  cordiality  of 
the  whole  people  was  most  marked — somewhat  different 
from  the  reception  which  I  received  when  I  came  with  my 
poor  wireless  invention  twenty  years  ago." 

A  LUNCHEON  BY  THE  MERCHANTS'  ASSOCIATION 

Next  day  pronounced  enthusiasm  greeted  the  Prince  and 
other  members  of  the  mission  when  they  entered  the  Grand 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  245 

Ballroom  of  the  Hotel  Astor  at  noon  to  attend  a  luncheon 
given  by  the  Merchants'  Association.  "I  thought  you 
Americans  attributed  enthusiasm  to  the  Latin  tempera- 
ment," the  Prince  remarked  with  a  laugh  as  he  took  his 
seat  beside  the  president  of  the  association.  The  luncheon, 
in  spirit  and  attendance,  was  a  duplicate  of  those  which 
marked  the  visits  of  the  French  and  British  missions.  The 
cordiality,  sympathy  and  admiration  which  one  country 
entertained  for  the  other  marked  every  speech.  Guglielmo 
Marconi,  in  the  first  speech  he  had  made  since  the  Italian 
Mission  reached  New  York,  said: 

In  normal  times  we  import  about  900,000  tons  of 
coal  a  month.  We  are  now  getting  somewhat  less  than 
half  that  amount.  Gentlemen,  we  do  not  want  coal 
to  heat  our  houses  and  our  hotels  throughout  the  bit- 
ter winter  of  Northern  Italy.  There  is  not  a  man, 
from  King  Victor  Emmanuel  to  the  poorest  peasant 
in  his  Alpine  hut,  who  would  not  gladly  shiver  and 
freeze,  as  hundreds  of  our  brave  soldiers  have  done, 
if  by  so  doing  he  could  help  to  win  the  war  for 
democracy  and  liberty.  No,  gentlemen,  we  want  coal, 
we  must  have  coal,  to  keep  our  munition  factories 
going,  to  run  our  railroads  carrying  ammunition  to 
the  front  and  food  to  all  the  scattered  populations 
of  the  country,  and  to  run  our  factories,  the  stoppage 
of  which  would  mean  the  throwing  of  a  million  men 
out  of  work,  to  starve  and  increase  our  difficulties. 
And  if  we  do  not  get  this  coal,  and  get  it  quick,  our 
ammunition  factories  will  have  to  work  half  time  or 
stop,  our  trains  will  cease  to  run,  diminishing  the 
efficiency  of  the  army,  and  even  perhaps  bringing 


246  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

about  local  famines,  and  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
our  people  will  be  thrown  out  of  work. 

Signer  Arlotta,  Mayor  Mitchel,  Nicholas  Murray  Butler 
and  Charles  E.  Hughes  also  spoke. 

AT  GARIBALDI^S  HOUSE  ON   STATEN   ISLAND 

That  afternoon  the  Prince  went  to  Staten  Island  to  pay 
tribute  to  the  memory  of  General  Garibaldi,  who  in  the  early 
fifties  found  a  haven  in  the  United  States,  making  his  home 
in  a  little  frame  house  that  still  stands  on  the  crest  of  a  hill 
at  Rosebank.  Besides  making  candles.  Garibaldi  engaged 
in  a  shipping  enterprise  from  which  he  made  a  little  money 
with  which  to  build  the  house  on  the  island  of  Caprera,  that 
remained  his  home  long  afterwards.  The  Prince  received 
a  welcome  such  as  he  said  he  had  never  before  witnessed. 
The  police  estimated  that  50,000  and  perhaps  100,000  Ital- 
ians took  part  in  the  demonstration,  one  of  the  most  pic- 
turesque ever  presented  in  New  York.  Along  the  State 
road  over  which  the  Prince  passed  on  the  way  to  the  Gari- 
baldi house  Italians — men,  women,  and  children — were 
massed  on  each  side  for  a  mile  and  a  half,  and  at  every 
fifty  yards  there  was  a  brass  band.  Each  band  played  either 
the  national  anthem  of  America  or  of  Italy,  and  everybodj' 
waved  a  flag,  and  some  two.  The  result  was  a  moving  pic- 
ture dominated  by  the  red,  white,  and  blue  of  America  and 
the  green,  white,  and  red  of  Italy. 

In  that  great  throng  at  least  half  the  men  were  in  uni- 
form. A  thousand  silken  banners  told  whence  they  came. 
Some  were  from  Philadelphia  and  others  from  Poughkeep- 
sie.  One  delegation  was  from  Bound  Brook,  another  from 
Trenton,  and  others  from  Mount  Vernon,  Yonkers  and 
Bridgeport.    It  seemed  as  if  hardly  a  city  or  village  with- 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  247 

in  100  miles  of  New  York  had  failed  to  send  the  bulk  of 
its  Italian  population.  New  York,  the  Bronx,  Brooklyn  and 
Queens  were  represented  by  scores  of  delegations.  The 
little  house  in  which  Garibaldi  lived,  now  an  Italian  shrine, 
is  inclosed  in  another  and  more  pretentious  building.  In 
the  rooms  are  still  preserved  some  of  the  humble  fumitu^^^ 
which  the  Italian  patriot  used.*  '^ 

To  accommodate  the  thousands  who  were  expected  to 
journey  to  Staten  Island  every  available  municipal  ferry- 
boat had  been  put  into  service.  Even  a  schedule  calling  for 
every  trip  that  was  possible  to  the  number  of  boats  in  serv- 
ice failed  to  get  all  the  Italian  to  Rosebank  in  time.  They 
were  still  coming  in  by  fifties  and  hundreds  when  the 
Prince  and  his  party  arrived  at  4  o'clock,  and  they  were 
going  home  for  some  hours  after  the  Prince  had  waved  his 
farewells.  The  Government  provided  for  the  Prince  one 
of  the  newest  type  of  destroyers  for  his  trip  to  Staten 
Island,  but  the  fast  little  submarine  catcher  took  a  rounda- 
bout course  to  St.  George,  in  order  to  afford  the  Prince 
an  opportunity  of  seeing  New  York  from  all  angles.  So, 
instead  of  going  direct  to  Staten  Island,  the  vessel  steamed 
up  the  Hudson  to  Spuyten  Duyvil,  thence  through  the  creek 
and  the  Harlem  and  East  Rivers,  making  the  circuit  in 
less  than  three-quarters  of  an  hour.  The  journey,  one  of 
the  most  enjoyable  as  well  as  instructive  the  Prince  had 
made  since  landing  in  America,  took  him  under  all  the 
bridges  that  span  the  Harlem  and  East  Rivers. 

On  the  steps  of  the  Garibaldi  Memorial,  at  Rosebank,  the 
Prince  made  a  speech  in  Italian,  in  which  he  told  75,000 
of  his  countrymen  to  be  as  loyal  to  the  United  States  as 
they  would  be  to  Italy  if  they  had  remained  there.  He 
said : 

*  The  New  York  Times. 


248  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Before  this  memorial  of  the  national  hero,  in  this 
country  which  he  loved  so  much  and  in  this  historical 
moment  when  the  fate  of  Italy  is  at  stake,  I  am  glad 
to  speak  to  you  American  and  Italian  citizens  assem- 
bled here  in  one  sentiment  and  one  faith.  My  word 
can  only  be  the  expression  of  your  soul,  which  has 
brought  the  dream  of  the  hero  to  fruition.  Let  us 
hope  that  from  this  war,  fought  for  liberty  and  democ- 
racy, for  the  same  principles  that  gave  birth  to  the 
great  American  republic,  may  develop  an  even  more 
generous  and  humane  society  than  the  one  which  was 
the  dream  of  Mazzini  and  the  ideal  of  Garibaldi. 

Let  us  fight — the  citizens  of  the  one  country  as  of 
the  other — for  this  faith.  Every  sacrifice  we  make 
will  be  blessed,  every  wound  will  be  healed.  The  joy 
of  seeing  side  by  side  the  flags  of  the  United  States 
and  Italy  lies  not  so  much  in  realizing  that  the  coun- 
tries of  Washington  and  Garibaldi  are  united  as  in 
knowing  that  the  ideals  of  the  two  are  amalgamated 
in  a  common  cause.  Eviva  the  United  States !  Eviva 
Italia! 

Then  was  presented  to  the  Prince  by  the  Order  of  the 
Sons  of  Italy,  50,000  lira  ($8,650),  as  a  gift  from  the  order 
to  Italian  charities.  Forty  thousand  members  of  the  order 
from  all  over  the  state  were  present  and  let  themselves  be 
heard  in  roars  of  approval. 

A  DINNER   AT   THE   WALDORF 

The  City's  official  greeting  took  place  that  night  at  the 
Waldorf,  where  every  element  of  the  city's  life — political, 
professional,  social,  artistic  and  financial — was  present  to 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  249 

bespeak  the  general  welcome,  and  to  hear,  incidentally,  a 
stirring  and  hitherto  untold  tale  of  the  war.  Signer  Mar- 
coni made  public  details  heretofore  unknown  as  to  how 
his  country's  timely  declaration  of  neutrality  at  the  out- 
break of  war  had  freed  a  million  French  troops,  then  mar- 
shaled against  a  possible  attack  by  Italy.  In  the  dead  of 
night  a  message  had  reached  Paris  from  Italy  with  this 
news,  and  before  dawn  French  soldiers  were  being  hastened 
north.  Later  these  released  men  helped  win  the  battle  of 
the  Marne.  Mayor  Mitchel  presided,  pledging  to  the  visi- 
tors America's  determination  to  be  Italy's  comrade  in  arms 
to  the  end.  Dr.  Nicholas  Murray  Butler  brought  the  house 
upstanding  by  mention  of  Theodore  Roosevelt's  name.  The 
Colonel  was  unable  to  attend,  but  had  invited  the  commis- 
sion to  Oyster  Bay.  Signor  Marconi's  statement  was  well 
timed  and  dramatic.  As  he  broke  into  his  thrilling  story 
his  auditors  bent  forward  en  masse  to  catch  every  syllable 
of  his  narrative : 

And  now,  gentlemen,  I  come  to  what  is  perhaps 
one  of  the  least  well  known  matters  in  connection  with 
this  war,  the  great,  the  absolutely  decisive  influence  of 
Italy's  conduct  at  the  very  outbreak  of  hostilities  in 
1914.  Let  me  tell  you  a  few  facts  concerning  the 
inner  political  history  of  those  fateful  few  days  of 
July,  1914,  when  the  fate  of  Europe  was  trembling 
in  the  balance.  Germany  did  not  expect  us  to  join 
her  in  her  savage  attack  on  the  liberties  of  Europe; 
she  did  not  even  care  much  whether  we  eventually 
agreed  to  remain  neutral.  Her  game  was  a  much 
deeper  and  more  treacherous  one.  She  wanted  us  to 
leave  France,  our  great  Latin  sister,  in  doubt  as  to  our 
intentions. 


250  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

On  the  morning  of  July  30,  1914,  that  is  to  say,  one 
day  before  Germany  declared  war  on  Russia,  and  two 
days  before  she  declared  war  on  France,  the  Marquis 
de  San  Giuliano,  who  was  then  our  Foreign  Minister, 
unofficially  informed  the  French  Ambassador  in  Rome 
that  Italy  would  never  side  with  the  Central  Powers 
in  a  war  of  aggression.  This  information  was  imme- 
diately wired  to  Paris,  but  it  was  not  sufficient  to 
make  France  feel  absolutely  certain  that  Italy's  atti- 
tude was  favorable  to  her,  because  there  was  as  yet 
no  official  declaration  of  neutrality  on  our  part. 

On  the  2nd  of  August,  1914,  three  days  before  Eng- 
land declared  war  against  Germany,  at  a  council  of 
ministers  held  in  Rome,  Italy  decided  formally  to 
declare  her  neutrality.  The  news  was  immediately 
communicated  to  our  charge  d'affaires  in  Paris,  the 
ambassador  being  absent.  For  some  reason  or  other 
the  telegram  did  not  reach  him  until  1  o'clock  in 
the  morning.  Without  a  moment's  hesitation,  he 
went  to  see  M.  Viviani,  the  French  Prime  Minister, 
in  the  middle  of  the  night. 

When  he  was  introduced  into  M.  Viviani 's  presence, 
the  latter  turned  pale  and  drew  back,  for  he  was  al- 
most convinced  that  nothing  but  Italy's  decision  to 
join  Germany  would  have  brought  the  Italian  charge 
d'affaires  there  at  that  hour.  The  revulsion  of  feel- 
ing^when  M.  Viviani  read  the  telegram  was  such  that 
he  could  not  hide  his  emotion.  Within  half  an  hour 
orders  had  gone  forth  for  the  mobilization  for  service 
in  the  north  of  nearly  one  million  men  which  France 
would  have  had  to  keep  on  her  southern  and  eastern 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  251 

frontier  to  guard  against  a  possible  attack  from  Italy. 

That  million  men  helped  to  stem  the  advancing  tide 
of  Germans,  to  win  the  battle  of  the  Marne,  and  to 
save  France  from  being  crushed  by  the  heel  of  German 
militarism. 

Had  there  been  the  slightest  wavering,  the  smallest 
hesitation  on  the  part  of  Italy,  had  any  Italian  poli- 
tician been  found  to  do  one-tenth  part  of  what  Bis- 
marck did  when  he  altered  the  wording  of  the  famous 
Ems  telegram  £ind  thus  brought  about  the  Franco- 
Prussian  War,  France  would  not  have  dared  to  with- 
draw a  single  man  from  the  Italian  frontier,  and  the 
history  of  the  world  might  have  been  written  dif- 
ferently. 

Gentlemen,  is  there  any  man  who  can  think,  in 
view  of  what  I  have  just  told  you,  that  Italy's  con- 
duct was  not  a  decisive  factor  in  the  war  ? 

THE  LAST  ITALIAN   DAYS 

The  entertainment  of  the  Italian  Mission  began  next  day 
with  a  celebration  at  the  City  College  Stadium.  After- 
ward they  drove  to  Grant's  Tomb,  where  the  Prince  laid 
a  wreath  on  the  sarcophagus.  Later  members  of  the  Dante 
League  of  America,  of  which  William  Roscoe  Thayer, 
author  of  a  notable  "Life  of  Cavour,"  is  president,  were 
received  by  the  Prince  at  the  Pembroke  Jones  residence. 

"Viva  ritalia!"  "Viva  FAmerica!"  "Viva  il  Marconi!" 
"Viva  Savoia!" — these  were  cries  raised  again  and  again 
by  20,000  voices  in  the  stadium  of  the  City  College  and 
from  the  streets,  hills,  and  housetops  around  it.  The  Italian 
population  of  the  city  and  suburbs  seemed  to  have  as- 
sembled in  that  neighborhood  with  one  mind  and  was  wild 


252  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

with  enthusiasm.  Fully  10,000  persons  were  in  the  stadium 
and  as  many  more  packed  the  spaces  outside  of  it,  all  ex- 
plosive in  their  emotions,  their  exclamations  and  cheering 
ringing  out  spontaneously  and  continuously  as  the  cere- 
monies proceeded.  The  decorations  harmonized  with  the 
stadium  itself  in  making  the  enclosure  a  fit  place  for  a 
Roman  assemblage,  with  its  high  stone  seats,  many  Italian 
flags  draped  or  flying  from  pillars  and  poles,  festoons  of 
green,  great  parti-colored  banners  behind  the  stage  and  on 
the  upper  walls  of  the  stadium  long  streamers  of  red, 
white  and  green.  Members  of  Italian  societies  were  in  the 
full  regalia  of  their  orders ;  200  young  women  were  dressed 
in  Italy^s  colors;  little  children  were  costumed  as  Italian 
heroes  and  heroines,  and  the  historic  S.  P.  Q.  R.  in  letters 
of  gold  was  on  the  capitals  of  columns.  Such  were  bril- 
liant elements  in  a  scene  that  suggested  some  of  the 
pageantry  of  ancient  Rome.  Not  the  least  decoration  of 
all  was  Antonio  Peruczi,  77  years  old,  wearing  the  red  shirt 
in  which  he  had  fought  under  Garibaldi. 

When  the  members  of  the  mission  arrived  at  the  stadium 
fifty  bands  played  at  the  same  time,  with  men  standing 
and  shouting.  Every  person  in  and  near  the  station  waved 
a  fiag,  while  hundreds  threw  roses  in  the  path  of  the  Prince 
as  he  walked  to  the  stage.  When  the  uproar  had  some- 
what subsided  George  McAneny,  Chairman  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  City  College,  introduced  Mayor  Mitchel 
as  the  presiding  officer.  All  through  the  proceedings  thus 
far  the  crowd  had  clamored  for  the  Prince  and  Signor  Mar- 
coni. Mayor  Mitchel  explained  that  his  recent  illness  would 
prevent  the  Prince  from  talking,  but  as  the  people  cried 
"Viva  Savoia,  Viva  Savoia,"  the  Maj^or  presented  his 
Royal  Highness,  who  rose  and  saluted  with  both  hands. 
The  people  went  almost  mad.  Then  "Viva  il  Marconi,  Viva 
il  Marconi"  rose  from  the  crowd,  and  the  inventor,  proba- 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  253 

bly  the  most  popular  member  of  the  mission  with  the  New 
York  Italians,  rose  and  saluted.  Mme.  Frances  Alda  sang 
the  "Star  Spangled  Banner''  and  "Rule  Britannia,"  Leon 
Rothier  sang  the  "Marseillaise,"  and  the  Metropolitan 
Opera  House  chorus,  accompanied  by  the  Metropolitan  or- 
chestra, imder  the  direction  of  Maestro  Giulio  Setti,  sang 
the  Hymn  of  Garibaldi. 

A  concert  given  at  Carnegie  Hall  that  evening  was  one 
of  the  most  elaborate  in  the  memory  of  New  York's  music 
lovers.  There  was,  first  of  all,  an  orchestra  of  ninety 
pieces,  under  the  direction  of  Oscar  Spirescu.  The  famous 
Italian  song,  "Inno  di  Garibaldi,"  was  sung  by  Mary  Car- 
son, Mile.  Madeleine  D'Espinoy,  soprano  of  the  Opera 
Comique  of  Paris,  sang  "Depuis  le  Jour."  Great  applause 
greeted  a  chorus  of  sailors  from  a  Russian  warship,  who 
sang  Ukrainian  folk-songs.  Leon  Rothier  of  the  Metro- 
politan Opera  brought  the  house  to  its  feet  when  he  sang 
the  "Marseillaise." 

The  second  half  of  the  program  began  with  selections 
by  the  Russian  Balalaika  Orchestra,  directed  by  Sunia 
Samuels.  Thamara  Swirskai  and  M.  Papatovitch  gave  sev- 
eral Russian  dances,  after  which  the  audience  was  enter- 
tained by  the  Metropolitan  Opera  ballet.  Mile.  Andree  Bar- 
lette  of  the  Theatre  Frangaise  recited  "Les  Femmes  Fran- 
caises."  "The  Hymn  of  New  Russia"  was  sung  by  Mme. 
Clara  Pasvolsky.  "Our  America,"  written  by  Miss  Mor- 
gan Han^ison,  was  sung  by  a  chorus  of  100,  with  the 
audience  joining  in.  Paul  Keferm  'cellist,  and  Salvatore  de 
Stefano,  harpist,  were  also  on  the  program.  "The  Star 
Spangled  Banner"  was  sung  by  Lois  Patterson  Wessitsh, 
with  the  organ,  chorus,  and  orchestra.  Girls  dressed  in  Rus- 
sian and  Italian  costumes  sold  programs.* 

A  striking  feature  of  the  program  was  the  sending  of 

» The  New  York  Times. 


254  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

a  message  to  the  French  front.  A  telegraphic  apparatus, 
connected  with  wireless,  was  set  up  on  the  stage  and 
the  message  sent  while  the  audience  listened  to  the  dots 
and  dashes: 

The  friends  of  France,  Italy,  and  the  other  allied 
nations,  assembled  this  evening  in  Carnegie  Hall,  send 
their  fraternal  greetings  and  their  fervent  wishes  for 
a  complete  victory  to  all — Generals,  officers  and  sol- 
diers— who,  with  unparalleled  heroism  are  now  fight- 
ing for  the  holy  cause  of  civilization  and  liberty  in 
the  world. 

Members  of  the  Italian  Mission  spent  June  15  in  Boston, 
except  that  Signor  Marconi  remained  in  New  York  in  or- 
der to  visit  a  Public  School  in  an  Italian  district  on  the 
upper  east  side  that  bore  his  name.  He  went  to  this  school 
that  day  and  talked  to  the  boys,  not  only  as  Italians  to 
Italians,  but  as  an  Italian  to  Allies.  The  streets  were 
crowded  for  blocks  with  people  of  the  neighborhood,  mostly 
Italians.  Those  who  could  not  find  places  in  the  street 
overflowed  on  fire-escapes  up  to  the  top  floors  of  tenements 
and  on  the  Elevated  railway  steps  and  platforms.  Each 
member  of  a  family  was  out — tiny  children,  old  men  and 
women — and  each  with  a  flag  to  wave.  All  who  could  do 
so  got  into  the  schoolhouse,  but  others  gathering  in  great 
numbers  waited  until  the  exercises  were  over  and  Signor 
Marconi  came  out  to  review  a  parade  of  school  children. 
Giuseppe  D'Andrea,  a  boy  in  the  school,  made  a  speech  of 
welcome  to  the  inventor,  booming  it  forth  in  careful  Eng- 
lish, speaking  again  and  again  the  word  "Welcome,"  with 
a  strong  accent  on  the  last  syllable.  Bands  belonging  to 
street  cleaners  played  their  loudest.  Flowers  of  red,  green 
and  white  were  handed  by  a  little  girl  to  Signor  Marconi. 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  255 

Signer  Marconi's  speech  was  short  and  he  spoke  slowly. 
Looking  down  into  the  face  of  first  one  boy  and  then  an- 
other, he  spoke  of  the  joy  it  was  to  him  to  see  so  many  of 
his  own  nationality  being  trained  as  these  were  to  meet 
their  duties  as  citizens  of  this  country.     He  said: 

We  are  living  in  stirring  times,  and  the  most  im- 
portant thing  is  to  increase  efficiency  for  service  to 
the  community,  not  only  to  win  this  war,  but  to  be 
ready  for  the  era  of  peace  for  which  we  are  fighting. 
What  is  this  war  all  for  ?  To  prepare  a  better  world 
for  you  to  live  in.  I  exhort  you  to  prepare  to  take 
the  great  inheritance  which  will  be  yours. 

THE    WELCOME    TO    THE    RUSSIANS 

On  July  6  New  York  gave  its  first  official  welcome  to 
free  Russia,  when  the  War  Mission,  headed  by  Ambassador 
Bakhmetieff,  landed  at  the  Battery.  It  was  a  welcome  un- 
restrained in  cordiality  and  good-fellowship.  The  immense 
crowd  that  gathered  in  Battery  Park  began  cheering  as 
soon  as  the  sirens  of  harbor  craft  had  announced  the  ar- 
rival of  the  Russians  by  ferry  from  across  the  river. 
For  spontaneity  and  genuine  enthusiasm,  the  ovation,  as  it 
continued  up  Broadway  to  the  City  Hall,  was  equaled  only 
by  the  reception  given  to  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre. 
After  the  ceremony  at  the  City  Hall  the  envoys  drove 
northward  through  streets  still  flanked  with  cheering  throngs 
to  the  residence  of  Adolph  Lewisohn,  on  upper  Fifth  Ave- 
nue, where  they  were  to  make  their  home  during  their  stay. 

Ambassador  Bakhmetieff.  smooth  shaven,  middle-aged, 
and  a  trifle  corpulent,  might  pass  for  a  Hoosier  banker  or 
a  manufacturer  of  Colonial  stock,  shrewd,  sensible  and 
completely  democratic.     He   and   his   associates  were  met 


256  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

at  the  Battery  by  two  companies  of  Russian  soldiers  in 
khaki  and  sailors  in  white  blouses  and  black  trousers,  all 
clean,  strapping  young  men.  Everywhere  were  Russian 
flags  and  flags  of  the  Allies.  Here  and  there  in  the  back- 
ground were  the  blood-red  banners  of  the  revolution,  some 
of  them  inscribed  with  strange  characters,  most  of  which 
hailed  democratic  Russia,  while  others  were  reminders  of  a 
bitter  past.  The  police  had  little  to  do  but  enjoy  the  spec- 
tacle and  gallop  in  the  wake  of  the  parade,  which  was  led 
by  a  platoon  of  cavalry. 

At  the  City  Hall  the  Aldermanic  chamber  was  crowded 
with  members  of  the  citizens'  committee  and  guests,  and  the 
galleries  filled  with  excited,  cheering  citizens,  mostly  Rus- 
sians. Ambassador  Bakhmetieff  stood  alone  in  the  center 
of  the  dais,  with  his  associates  below  on  either  side.  It 
was  the  exact  spot  where  Marshal  Joffre  had  stood  and 
saluted  in  recognition  of  the  plaudits  of  the  crowd  gathered 
about  him.  Above  was  an  escutcheon,  bearing  the  head  of 
the  Goddess  of  Liberty,  with  Russian  eagles  perched  on 
her  shoulder.  The  white,  blue  and  red  of  the  old  Russian 
flag  prevailed  in  the  decorations,  both  within  and  without 
the  Hall.  The  red  flag  of  the  revolutionists  was  not  here  in 
evidence. 

Mayor  Mitchel  met  the  party  as  they  entered  the  cham- 
ber, and  when  the  cheering  subsided,  delivered  an  address 
of  welcome.  Martin  W.  Littleton,  in  speaking  for  the  citi- 
zens of  New  York,  predicted  the  downfall  of  all  auto- 
cratic power  and  declared  that  America  was  pledged  to 
fight  with  the  Allies  "until  the  last  Kaiser  of  all  the  con- 
federated Kaisers  is  scourged  from  his  empire  of  abso- 
lutism and  assassination.  The  monarchy,  the  empire,  the 
kingdom,"  he  said  further,  "is  gone  never  to  return.  Kings, 
kaisers,  and  czars,  when  they  reign  in  future,  shall  reign 
even  as  a  child  reigns  in  a  nursery,  playing  with  dumb 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  257 

images  of  power,  brandishing  a  glittering  blade  of  tin,  or 
presiding  with  mock  gravity  over  empty  eflBgies."  Am- 
bassador Bakhmetieff  said,  in  part: 

I  can  scarcely  express  the  emotion  and  sincere 
gratitude  I  feel  for  the  brotherly  welcome  in  the 
hearty  reception  which  has  been  accorded  to  us  by  this 
greatest  of  the  world's  cities.  This  enthusasm  is  the 
joy  of  America  that  a  new  democracy  has  been  born. 
The  deep  feelings  that  overwhelm  us  all  here  present 
are  the  highest  expression  of  the  true  friendship 
which  has  always  existed  between  the  two  great  na- 
tions, and  which  we  have  come  now  as  messengers  of 
Russia's  freedom  to  express.  So  momentous  is  the 
present  hour  that  our  two  nations  have  extended  to 
each  other  their  brotherly  hands  in  this  world  strug- 
gle. The  United  States,  the  far  distant  oversea  coun- 
try, has  joined  the  ranks  of  the  nations  which  are 
fighting  for  justice  and  has  raised  the  same  banner  of 
lofty  human  ideals  that  animate  the  people  of  Russia. 
Liberty  and  democracy,  such  are  the  challenges  of  the 
Russian  revolution,  such  are  the  aims  which  our  great 
republic  is  seeking  to  attain  for  all  nations. 

AN    EVENING   MASS    MEETING    AT    CARNEGIE    HALL 

After  a  dinner  given  by  Mayor  Mitchel  at  the  Ritz- 
Carlton,  the  day  of  greetings  to  the  Russians  was  closed 
with  a  mass  meeting  at  Carnegie  Hall,  where  five  thousand 
persons  applauded  in  the  auditorium,  and  thousands  who 
banked  the  streets  on  the  outside  continued  the  demonstra- 
tion. At  the  opening  of  the  meeting.  Colonel  Roosevelt 
and  Samuel  Gompers  came  to  a  violent  altercation  over 
bloody  race  riots  a  few  days  before  in  East  St.  Louis.   By 


258  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

long  persistence  Mayor  Mitchel  at  last  succeeded  in  restor- 
ing order,  but  for  several  moments  before  he  regained  con- 
trol of  the  meeting  Mr.  Gompers  and  the  Colonel  were  on 
their  feet,  shaking  their  fingers  at  each  other  and  shouting 
exclamatory  words  which  were  lost  in  the  mighty  roar  that 
filled  the  hall.  The  Colonel  began  it,  just  before  making 
his  speech  of  welcome  to  the  commission,  when  he  took  oc- 
casion to  say  several  burning  things  concerning  the  riots. 
After  that  he  undertook  to  make  his  address  to  the  Rus- 
sian commission,  but  Mr.  Gompers  refused  to  ignore  his 
violent  remarks  and  replied  to  them  vigorously.  The  Mayor 
then  stepped  forward  to  introduce  Ambassador  Bakhmetieff, 
but  Colonel  Roosevelt  intervened.  "May  I  say  a  word?" 
he  asked  sharply,  and  plunged  into  a  further  denunciation 
of  the  riots,  aiming  his  remarks  more  at  Mr.  Gompers 
than  at  the  audience.  A  shout  now  went  up  that  was 
high  and  angry.  As  Colonel  Roosevelt  proceeded,  the  yells 
of  the  crowd  became  so  deafening  that  they  drowned  out 
entirely  his  remarks,  and  so  he  walked  over  to  where  Mr. 
Gompers  was  sitting  and  shaking  his  finger  in  his  face, 
spoke  directly  to  him.  Mr.  Gompers  replied  heatedly,  but 
his  words  were  lost  in  the  noise  that  filled  the  hall,  while 
the  police  looked  about  them  uneasily.  Tlie  Russian  visitors 
were  plainly  astounded.  When  the  two  men  finally  re- 
sumed their  seats,  both  were  extremely  rufiled.^  Ambas- 
sador Bakhmetieff,  who  was  now  allowed  to  speak,  declared 
that  the  crisis  had  passed  in  Russia  and  that  a  free  people 
were  on  the  way  to  a  victory  which  would  guarantee  the 
permanence  of  their  freedom.     He  added: 

The  fate  of  the  future  will  depend  on  whether 
Russia  will  emerge  from  this  world's  struggle  as  a 
firm  democracy,  solid  and  majestic  in  its  democratic 

*  The  New  York  Tribune. 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  259 

consciousness,  supported  by  the  gallantry  of  its  arms, 
or  whether  the  Eastern  country  will  succumb  in  its 
internal  task  of  political  reconstruction,  or  will  col- 
lapse in  consequence  of  insufficient  supplies  or  the 
invalidism  of  arms.  In  this  dilemma  lies  the  source  of 
the  enthusiasm  of  your  greeting.  But  here  are  as  well 
the  causes  of  grave  thought  and  the  melancholic 
sorrow  of  your  smile. 

Do  people  realize  the  magnitude  of  events  which 
have  happened?  Do  they  in  a  proper  way  conceive 
the  deepness  and  breadth  of  the  cataclysm  which  has 
taken  place  in  Russia?  Do  they  really  expect  that 
the  process  of  transition  of  180,000,000  human  beings 
from  practically  a  state  of  slavery  to  the  most  demo- 
cratic and  unrestricted  form  of  existence,  a  process 
comprising  the  complete  reorganization  of  political 
and  social  life,  could  occur  without  occasional  dis- 
order and  outbursts  of  civil  strife? 

The  whole  has  to  settle.  Things  have  to  take  their 
place — lose  their  accidental  postures.  This  process  of 
settlement  needs  time;  needs  historical  treatment — 
severe,  implacable,  but  unavoidable. 

I  am  glad  to  state  that  in  a  large  measure  the 
period  of  misunderstanding — I  would  say  confusion — 
is  over.  The  splendid  advance  in  Galicia  has  been 
the  best  answer  to  all  rumors  of  separate  peace.  The 
achievements  of  Kerensky  and  of  Brusiloff  at  the 
head  of  a  democratic  army  have  demonstrated  that  a 
democratic  army  can  fight  bravely  and  with  the  best 
of  achievements. 


260  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

ANOTHER  day's   FESTIVITIES 

Next  day  the  Russian  Mission  was  entertained  by  Mayor 
Mitchel  at  a  luncheon  in  Claremont  Inn  on  Riverside  Drive 
at  which  prominent  citizens  were  present.  The  northern 
veranda  of  the  inn,  where  about  125  were  seated,  was  deco- 
rated with  American  flags.  After  luncheon  the  Russians 
witnessed  an  exhibition  by  the  New  York  Fire  Department 
in  the  City  College  Stadium  and  were  taken  for  a  tour  of 
the  city's  park  system,  ending  at  the  Mall  in  Central  Park, 
where  they  were  welcomed  by  a  crowd  of  20,000.  As  far 
as  the  eye  could  see,  the  avenues  leading  to  the  Mall  were 
packed  with  people.  Long  approaches  to  the  bandstand  had 
been  decorated  with  the  flags  of  the  Allies.  Just  enough 
breeze  blew  over  the  hill  to  make  it  pleasant.  A  mighty 
cheer  arose  as  the  figure  of  the  Ambassador  was  seen  com- 
ing through  the  lines  of  police,  the  Ambassador  waving 
his  hand  in  friendly  salutation.  In  opening  the  exercises. 
Park  Commissioner  Cabot  Ward  said  that  it  was  pecul- 
iarly fitting  to  welcome  the  representatives  of  the  new 
democracy  in  a  park  which  included  a  spot  closely  asso- 
ciated Vv-ith  the  American  Revolution. 

In  the  evening  a  vast  audience  assembled  in  Madison 
Square  Garden  at  a  meeting  in  which  forty-eight  Russian 
societies  were  represented.  The  interior  of  the  garden  was 
decorated  in  red — red  at  the  ceiling,  red  about  the  balconies, 
red  about  the  boxes,  and  red  on  the  platform.  High  above 
the  platform,  conspicuous  against  the  red,  hung  the  white 
and  blue  Zion  flag.  There  were  banners  everywhere.  Some 
of  the  inscriptions  were  "Long  Live  the  Provisional  Rus- 
sian Government,"  "Long  Live  the  Russian  Fleet,"  "Wel- 
come, the  First  Ambassador  of  Free  Russia,"  "Long  Live 
the  Russian  Revolutionary  Army." 

When  the  Ambassador  and  his  party  arrived,  about  8 :30, 


VISITS  TO  NEW  YORK  261 

the  crowd  rose  in  a  roar  of  greeting.  Thousands  of  red 
flags  fluttered,  and  the  great  audience  cheered.  Mr.  Bakh- 
metieff  walked  to  the  platform,  waved  his  hand  several  times, 
and  then  seizing  a  bunch  of  red  carnations  on  the  speakers' 
stand,  leaned  out  over  the  railing,  his  face  aglow  with  joy, 
and  led  the  cheering.  The  band  played  the  new  Russian 
national  hymn,  and  the  Ambassador  helped  sing  it.  It  was 
fully  twenty-five  minutes  before  the  crowd  could  be  quieted. 
Ambassador  Bakhmetieff  began  his  address  by  calling  for 
a  rousing  cheer  for  the  Russian  sailors  "who  helped  to 
save  the  revolution."  Repeatedly  he  called  for  cheers  for 
the  revolutionary  army,  and  repeatedly  they  were  given. 
"Just  as  the  revolution  saved  Russia,"  said  he,  "so  did  the 
army  save  the  revolution."  He  spoke  in  Russian  and  was 
interrupted  frequently  by  tumultuous  cheers  which  lasted 
fully  five  minutes.  He  said  he  had  brought  to  the  exiles 
who  had  suflfered  terribly  under  the  old  regime,  a  message 
of  love  and  gratitude  from  their  native  land,  "now  glow- 
ing in  the  realization  of  that  great  dream  to  which  they 
had  all  aspired."  He  described  the  critical  moments  of  the 
revolution,  the  economic,  political,  and  social  disorganiza- 
tion which  necessarily  followed  the  overturn  of  the  old 
regime.  For  a  time  it  seemed  as  though  the  revolution 
might  prove  a  failure,  that  the  obstacles  were  too  -great ; 
but  the  moment  of  salvation  came.  This  was  when  Cere- 
telli,  Skobeleff  and  Tchernoff  united  and  formed  the  coali- 
tion which  strengthened  the  Provisional  Government  and 
put  the  young  nation  on  a  solid  foundation.  It  all  seemed 
like  a  dream,  an  impossible  dream,  but  in  a  few  months  the 
world  would  see  the  Russian  Republic  realizing  its  full 
power  of  creative  strength. 


IN  NEWBURGH  AND  WEST  POINT 

MAESHAL    JOFFRE'S    VISIT 

Marshal  Joffre  on  May  11  (which  was  during  his  visit 
to  New  York)  left  the  city  for  the  day,  accompanied  by 
the  military  members  of  the  French  Commission,  in  order 
to  make  a  visit  to  West  Point,  including  a  short  stay  at 
Washington's  Headquarters  near  Newburgh.  At  New- 
burgh  the  visitors  were  made  the  official  guests  of  New  York 
State,  and  from  there  went  to  West  Point.  Marshal  Joffre 
was  greeted  at  Newburgh  with  cheers  from  thousands.  At 
Washington's  Headquarters,  which  stands  to-day  practically 
the  same  place  that  it  was  in  1784,  and  overlooks  the  river 
a  short  distance  below  the  town,  Governor  Whitman  ex- 
tended the  official  welcome  and  pledged  all  the  resources 
of  the  State  to  the  cause  of  the  Allies,-  Marshal  Joffre  re- 
ceived here  from  the  hands  of  a  little  girl  a  large  gold 
medal,  commemorating  his  visit,  that  had  been  bought  with 
a  fund  made  up  from  dimes  contributed  by  children. 
From  Justice  Pendleton,  of  the  Supreme  Court,  he  re- 
ceived official  notification  of  his  election  to  honorary  mem- 
bership in  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati.  This  was  the  first 
time  in  history  that  a  person,  not  a  descendant  of  a  Revo- 
lutionary soldier,  had  ever  been  elected  to  membership  in. 
this  order.  Marshal  Joffre  replied  to  Governor  Whitman 
as  follows : 

262 


IN  NEWBURGH  AND  WEST  POINT  263 

I  thank  you  for  your  generous  words  and  for  the 
expressions  of  sympathy  and  deep  feeling  expressed 
in  this  splendid  reception  by  the  State  of  New  York 
to  my  country.  I  realize  that  this  place  where 
we  are  assembled  is  a  place  of  great  memories, 
a  place  where  Washington  meditated  over  what 
he  had  done  and  what  he  had  to  do  in  the  future. 
What  you  have  said  about  the  soldiers  of  France  has 
deeply  affected  me.  I  thank  you — first  for  my  coun- 
try and  then  for  myself.    I  bid  you  adieu. 

The  gold  medal  given  by  the  children  of  Newburgh  was 
two  and  one-half  inches  in  diameter.  On  one  side  was 
shown  Washington's  Headquarters,  on  the  other  an  inscrip- 
tion. Marshal  Joffre  then  went  to  West  Point,  where  he 
passed  most  of  the  afternoon.  He  had  a  simple  luncheon 
with  officers  of  the  regular  army,  all  West  Point  graduates, 
and  most  of  whom  spoke  French;  motored  through  the 
beautiful  wooded  Highlands  behind  the  point,  and  when  it 
was  all  over  said  that  so  long  as  he  might  live  his  after- 
noon at  West  Point  would  be  one  of  his  dearest  and  most 
cherished  memories.  "I  have  not  had  in  these  last  three 
years,"  said  he  to  Colonel  John  Biddle,  Superintendent  of 
the  Academy,  "very  many  opportunities  to  enjoy  myself 
and  be  happy,  but  to-day  here  at  beautiful  West  Point  I 
have  been  happy."  He  seemed  as  carefree  as  a  schoolboy. 
"He  has  been  so  happy  that  it's  a  pity  he  has  to  go  so 
soon,"  said  one  of  his  staff  officers. 

A  finer  day  could  not  have  been  asked  for.  All  that 
morning  the  whole  reservation  had  been  on  tip-toe,  so  to 
speak,  in  anticipation  of  the  coming  of  the  highest  ranking 
field  commander  in  the  world.  Other  great  soldiers  from 
foreign  lands,  among  them  Kitchener,  had  been  officially 


264  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

received  at  West  Point  and  had  reviewed  the  West  Point 
cadets,  but  never  before  had  the  cadets  been  reviewed  by  a 
Marshal  of  France.  There  were  no  decorations.  West 
Point  was,  as  it  is  on  every  other  day  in  the  year,  just 
West  Point  and  nothing  more. 

When  the  special  train  arrived  at  the  little  station  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill,  one  saw  drawn  up  the  Black  Troopers  of 
the  regular  army  stationed  at  West  Point,  every  one  of 
them  a  veteran  of  the  Ninth  or  Tenth  regular  cavalry.  As 
the  head  of  the  cavalry  appeared  over  the  crest  of  the 
hill,  a  battery  of  field  artillery,  stationed  near  the  Battle 
Monument,  began  to  thunder  out  the  Marshal's  salute  of 
seventeen  guns.  The  entire  Corps  of  Cadets,  to  the  num- 
ber of  600,  was  in  parade  formation  and  in  single  file, 
the  line  of  gray-coated  young  men  forming  a  great  semi- 
circle which  extended  from  the  old  to  the  new  barracks. 
The  West  Point  band,  massed  on  the  plain  in  front  of 
the  barracks,  played  the  "Marseillaise."  Of  the  cadets 
whom  the  Marshal  saw,  perhaps  200  would  be  fighting  in 
France  before  another  year  rolled  around.  "It  is  splendid 
and  wonderful,"  Marshal  Joffre  exclaimed,  as  he  looked 
into  the  faces  of  that  long  line. 

For  a  moment  he  stopped  at  the  historic  house  which 
has  been  the  residence  of  West  Point  Superintendents  from 
the  days  of  Robert  E.  Lee  to  the  present.  At  1  o'clock 
the  army  luncheon  was  served  in  the  officers'  mess  hall 
in  the  club  building,  where  awaiting  him  were  the  tactical 
and  academic  staffs  of  the  Academy,  every  arm  of  the 
service  represented.  The  Marshal  felt  himself  immediately 
at  home.  Lieutenant  de  Tessan  stood  by,  expecting  to  be 
called  into  service  as  an  interpreter,  but  practically  every 
officer  present  could  converse  with  Marshal  Joffre  in  his 
native  tongue.  The  meal  was  served  on  a  single  long  table 
that  reached  almost  the  full  length  of  the  room,  where 


IN  NEWBURGH  AND  WEST  POINT         265 

everybody  sits  close,  and  every  meal  is  a  family  gathering, 
the  waiters,  Filipinos,  as  noiseless  as  they  are  efficient.  At 
this  table,  and  to  this  kind  of  meal,  the  great  Marshal  and 
his  staff  sat  down.  He  was  at  the  right  of  Colonel  Biddle, 
who  sat  at  the  head  of  the  table.  Opposite  him  was  Colonel 
Fabry.  The  company  remained  at  the  table  more  than  an 
hour  and  a  half.  More  than  5,000  persons  had  by  this 
time  arrived  at  West  Point,  two-thirds  of  them  in  auto- 
mobiles, hundreds  going  up  from  New  York.  Never  before, 
it  was  said,  had  so  many  automobiles  been  standing  at  West 
Point  at  one  time. 

It  was  2:49  when  the  shrill  tones  of  bugles  announced 
that  Marshal  Joffre  and  his  escort  were  about  to  leave  the 
mess  hall  and  review  the  corps.  As  he  was  escorted  to  the 
reviewing  field,  the  cheers  that  greeted  him  were  such  as 
West  Point  hears  only  on  big  athletic  occasions  when  West 
Point  has  won  a  game.  Across  the  great  parade  green  passed 
company  after  company  of  cadets,  each  marching  in  per- 
fect alignment  and  every  man  as  erect  and  as  soldierly  as 
Koehler,  the  "king  of  physical  trainers,"  could  make  him. 
From  somewhere  a  company  would  suddenly  appear  and 
march  across  the  field.  A  moment  later  another  would 
come  from  the  opposite  direction,  and  then  another  would 
come,  until  eight  were  on  the  plain  at  the  same  time,  some 
going  this  way,  others  going  that,  each  unconsciously,  it 
seemed,  performing  all  sorts  of  military  evolutions.  Time 
and  again  Marshal  Joffre  uttered  an  enthusiastic  word  of 
praise.  All  this  time  a  band  was  playing,  sometimes  an 
American,  sometimes  a  French  air. 

For  fifteen  minutes  the  maneuvers  lasted,  and  then  the 
corps  formed  in  regimental  front  for  review.  Marshal 
Joffre  stepped  forward  until  he  stood  alone  three  paces  in 
front  of  Colonel  Biddle  and  others  of  the  reviewing  escort. 
From   end  to  end   along  the  whole  line  Marshal  Joffre 


266  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 


slowly  walked,  and  looked  into  the  eyes  of  every  cadet. 
The  look  was  serious,  but  at  the  same  time  sympathetic.  As 
he  returned  to  his  post,  the  crowd  gave  him  a  great  ova- 
tion, and  then  the  eight  companies  went  stepping  briskly 
by  in  company  front,  their  alignment  perfect.  The  Mar- 
shal's face  was  a  study  as  they  passed  by.  There  was  real 
expression,  something  like  eloquence,  or  high  command,  in 
the  salute  he  gave  to  every  company  commander  as  he 
passed  at  the  head  of  his  unit.  In  less  than  half  an  hour 
it  was  all  over. 

"I  have  always  understood,"  said  Marshal  Joffre  to  Colo- 
nel Biddle  afterwards,  "that  the  United  States  Military 
Academy  was  the  greatest  military  school  in  the  world, 
and  after  what  I  have  seen  here  this  afternoon,  I  realize 
that  the  academy  is  more  than  worthy  of  its  great  repu- 
tation." 

Following  the  review  the  Marshal  was  taken  for  an  au- 
tomobile drive  around  the  reservation.  He  saw  the  beau- 
tiful chapel  on  the  mountain,  had  a  glimpse  of  the  old  ceme- 
tery where  for  more  than  a  hundred  years  West  Pointers 
have  found  their  last  resting  place,  saw  spots  where  Wash- 
ington had  stood  in  the  days  of  Lafayette  and  the  Revolu- 
tion; in  fact,  had  at  least  a  glimpse  of  everything  of  inter- 
est in  the  West  Point  territory. 

At  3 :30  he  left  the  enclosure  to  return  to  New  York,  the 
entire  corps  parading  once  more  as  a  farewell  tribute. 
Again  and  again  he  bowed  in  acknowledgment  of  the 
honor.  The  Black  Horsemen  cantered  ahead  of  his  auto- 
mobile on  the  way  down  to  the  station,  the  Superintendent 
and  other  officers  following.  Until  the  train  disappeared 
around  the  curve  that  leads  to  Highland  Falls  all  West 
Point  stood  at  attention,* 

*  The  New  York  Times. 


IN  NEWBURGH  AND  WEST  POINT         267 

On  the  way  to  New  York  Lieutenant  de  Tessan  told  the 
newspapermen  how  happy  his  chief  had  been  at  West 
Point.  "That  corps  is  simply  wonderful,"  said  he,  "and 
the  Marshal  considers  it  as  fine  a  body  of  young  men  as 
there  is  in  the  world.  They  are  already  officers  and  are 
ready  even  now  for  service.  Of  course,  they  would  need 
a  little  further  instruction  in  some  phases  of  war  as  devel- 
oped in  Europe  in  the  last  three  years,  but  they  would  catch 
on  quickly,  for  they  are  West  Pointers.  The  Marshal  will 
never  forget  to-day  at  West  Point,  and  the  same  is  true  of 
every  man  of  his  staff  who  accompanied  him.  The  officers 
were  splendid  comrades.  What  more  can  we  say  than 
thatr 

When  these  ceremonies  were  over,  it  was  learned  that, 
after  the  cadets  had  passed  the  Marshal  in  review,  he  was 
heard  to  utter,  to  the  surprise  of  a  West  Point  officer  near 
him,  the  word  "Bully!"  which  occasioned  much  merriment 
when  the  incident  was  narrated  to  others.  It  was  inferred 
that  the  use  of  the  word  was  a  consequence  of  a  long  con- 
versation he  had  had  the  night  before  in  the  Frick  mansion 
with  Colonel  Roosevelt,  whose  use  of  this  word  was  now 
historic. 

GENERAL  BRIDGES  AT  V7EST  POINT 

Next  day  Lieutenant  General  Bridges,  ranking  military 
member  of  the  British  Commission,  followed  Marshal 
Joffre's  example  and  quietly  slipped  out  of  New  York  for  a 
journey  to  West  Point,  where  he  spent  the  day  as  the 
guest  of  Colonel  Biddle.  West  Point's  famous  squadron 
of  Black  Troopers  was  again  lined  up  at  the  station  when 
he  arrived  and  the  corps  of  cadets  paraded  in  front  of  the 
barracks  as  the  automobile  arrived  on  the  plain.  General 
Joffre,  greatly  to  his  regret,  had  been  able  to  spend  only 
something  less  than  four  hours  at  West  Point,  but  General 


268  BALFOUR,  VIVIXNI  AND  JOFFRE 

Bridges  stayed  the  whole  day.  He  met  every  officer  on 
duty  at  the  Academy,  reviewed  the  corps  and  inspected  the 
buildings.  In  the  afternoon  he  met  all  the  cadets  in  the 
Cullum  Memorial  Hall  and  made  an  address  to  them.  As 
in  the  case  of  Marshal  Joffre,  West  Point  had  planned  no 
formal  welcome,  but  instead  received  General  Bridges  as  a 
brother  in  arms  and  an  ally  in  the  war.  During  and 
after  the  review,  General  Bridges  expressed  admiration 
for  the  efficiency  of  the  corps,  and  thus  echoed  the  words 
of  Marshal  Joffre. 


VI 

IN  BOSTON  AND   IN    CANADIAN  CITIES 

MARSHAL   JOFFRE  IN  BOSTON 

From  the  moment  when  he  stepped  from  his  train  at  the 
South  Station  in  Boston,  on  the  morning  of  May  12,  mitil 
he  departed  for  Canada  that  night.  Marshal  JoiBfre  was 
applauded  continuously.  Crowds  massed  along  the  streets 
and,  heedless  of  frequent  showers,  accorded  him  one  of 
the  most  enthusiastic  greetings  ever  given  to  a  popular  idol 
in  that  city.  From  the  legislators  at  the  State  House,  the 
Faculty  and  students  of  Harvard,  and  from  leading  busi- 
ness and  professional  men  assembled  at  a  banquet  given 
by  the  State,  his  welcome  was  everywhere  unstintedly  cor- 
dial. On  the  Common,  where  perhaps  100,000  persons 
gathered,  he  was  told  that  school  children  of  Boston  and 
New  England  desired  to  present  through  him  a  fund  for 
the  care  of  French  children  whose  fathers  had  died  for 
France.  This  sum  had  reached  $175,000  and  contributions 
were  still  pouring  in. 

At  Harvard,  surrounded  by  a  brilliant  throng  in  academ- 
ic robes  and  military  uniforms,  he  was  invested  by  Presi- 
dent Lowell  with  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws. 
President  Lowell  said  that  his  "calm  courage  at  the  Marne 
wrung  from  defeat  a  victory  that  saved  France,  and  with 
France  the  world."  Later  he  was  driven  to  the  Stadium, 
where  he  saluted  the  Harvard  Regiment  and  received  six 
French  army  officers  who,  wounded  in  the  war,  had  re- 

269 


270  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

cently  come  over  and  been  active  as  military  instructors 
for  Harvard  students.  At  a  banquet  he  announced  in  a 
short  speech  that  this  would  probably  be  his  last  public 
appearance  in  an  American  city: 

At  the  end  of  our  stay  in  your  wonderful  country, 
it  is  with  deep  regret  that  we  take  our  leave.  I  want 
to  tell  you  how  intensely  we  feel  the  warm  personal 
sympathy  and  kindness  which  we  have  met  on  every 
hand.  We  are  obliged  to  leave  Boston  and  the  neigh- 
boring States  that  are  so  very  dear  to  us  for  what 
our  forefathers  did  here. 

After  being  the  principal  figure  at  a  joint  legislative  ses- 
sion at  the  State  House,  Marshal  Joffre  on  the  same  day 
was  the  guest  at  a  luncheon  in  Faneuil  Hall,  and  later  led 
a  parade  of  National  Guard  companies  and  high  school 
cadets  through  streets  along  which  places  had  been  reserved 
for  thousands  of  school  children. 

MARSHAL   JOFFRE   IN   MONTREAL 

Marshal  Jo&e  left  that  night  for  Montreal.  As  Marshal 
of  France,  he  was  more  to  French  Canadians  than  even  a 
Canadian  hero  could  have  been.  He  arrived  a  few  min- 
utes before  11  o'clock  a.m.  Close  to  half  a  million  peo- 
ple lined  the  streets,  squares  and  parks  to  greet  and  honor 
him.  In  a  mass  of  flags  and  streamers  there  sounded  over 
the  city  the  noise  of  bells  and  human  voices  mingled  with 
the  hoarse  shouts  of  motor  horns.  Such  a  welcome  Mon- 
treal had  never  given  to  any  man  within  modern  memory. 

With  all  the  promptitude  of  the  soldier  trained  to  lose 
no  time  even  in  non-essentials.  Marshal  Joffre  on  arrival 
got  into  his  blue  overcoat  at  the  station  and  settled  himself 


IN  BOSTON  AND  IN  CANADIAN  CITIES     271 

back  in  the  reception  automobile  with  the  air  of  one  confi- 
dently ready  for  the  next  move.  With  his  strong  hand  that 
expressed  capability  he  made  those  graceful  salutes  so 
familiar  in  pictures  and  repeated  them  again  and  again. 
His  penetrating,  steady  eyes  seemed  even  to  be  gathering 
information  for  use  in  wider  fields  than  those  outlined  by 
the  clamoring  masses  who  represented  almost  the  entire 
population  of  Montreal.  The  day  was  made  such  a  holi- 
day as  had  not  been  known  in  years.  He  appeared,  as 
he  had  done  everywhere  else,  with  the  manner  of  one  who 
had  come  to  see,  rather  than  with  the  bearing  of  one  who 
had  come  to  be  seen.  Gravely  and  unconsciously  he  ac- 
knowledged plaudits  and  then  surveyed  each  assemblage 
with  sweeping  glances  from  side  to  side  as  far  out  as 
his  range  of  vision  could  extend. 

The  first  greetings  offered  at  the  station  by  Mayor  Mar- 
tin and  General  Wilson  were  brief,  and  soon  the  proces- 
sion was  on  its  way  up  Windsor  Street,  to  make  the  long- 
round  of  the  city.  Along  Dorchester  Street  cheers  grew 
and  collected  in  force,  culminating  in  a  full-throated  wel- 
come thundered  out  by  returned  Canadian  soldiers  who  had 
congregated  about  the  Khaki  League,  where  the  crowd  had 
been  stimulated  to  fresh  outbursts.  From  that  time  on,  a 
deep-toned  vocal  adulation  attended  the  car  wherein  sat 
the  grave  and  observant  soldier. 

On  Fletcher's  Field  the  expanse  of  men,  women  and 
children  stretched  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see.  Long  before 
the  Marshal  and  his  party  arrived,  people  had  collected 
there,  hurrying  on  bicycles,  and  in  carriages,  and  running 
on  foot  in  their  anxiety  to  secure  promising  points  of  van- 
tage. It  was  estimated  that  200,000  persons  were  in  that 
neighborhood — ^soldiers  in  close  formation,  in  the  kilt  of 
Highlanders,  picturesquely  strung  against  men  in  khaki 
uniforms,  Mount   St.  Louis   Cadets,   religious  brothers  in 


272  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

black  cassocks,  and  civilians  in  numbers  impossible  to 
count.  On  a  platform  a  little  girl  presented  Marshal  Joffre 
with  a  bouquet,  this  platform  forming  the  saluting  base, 
and  erected  near  the  slope  of  the  mountain.  An  address, 
illuminated  on  white  parchment,  was  presented  to  him,  but 
at  the  request  of  the  Marshal,  without  being  read.^  After 
a  brief  review,  Marshal  Joffre  gave  out  his  message  to 
Canada  in  a  half -minute  speech,  made  to  the  officers. 

I  am  glad  to  see  you,  as  you  are  the  representa- 
tives of  the  forces  which  have  sent  so  many  troops 
to  the  front — troops,  unfortunately,  of  which  many 
have  died.  You  have  sent  many  overseas,  and  I  feel 
sure  you  will  continue  to  send  more,  for  men  are 
needed,  badly  needed. 

A  State  luncheon  was  spread  at  the  Ritz-Carlton,  where 
the  acting  Premier,  Sir  George  Foster,  Sir  Wilfrid  Laurier, 
the  Provincial  Prime  Minister,  Sir  Lomer  Gouin,  and  ec- 
clesiastical, military,  political,  and  civil  dignitaries  ex- 
pressed the  welcome  and  gratitude  of  Canada  and  the  Al- 
lies to  Marshal  Joffre  and  the  soldiers  of  France.  At 
luncheon,  his  reply  to  a  toast  was : 

I  thank  you,  Mr.  Chairman,  for  the  kind  words  you 
have  said  to  me,  and  I  thank  you,  gentlemen,  with 
all  my  heart  for  the  warmth  of  the  reception  you  have 
given  me,  and  I  can  assure  you  that  the  acclamations 
with  which  you  have  greeted  me  will  be  heard  in 
France.  I  know  the  services  rendered  by  Canada  in 
France.    Your  soldiers  have  fought  beside  our  soldiers 

*The  Montreal  Star. 


IN  BOSTON  AND  IN  CANADIAN  CITIES     273 

and  many  have  died  in  the  fight  we  are  waging.  They 
have  always  shown  indomitable  courage,  and  in  them 
Canada  has  done  her  duty.  I  have  just  received  a 
despatch  from  the  French  Government  informing  me 
that  they  have  destowed  the  Legion  d'Honneur  on 
Major-General  Fiset  and  on  Brigadier-General  A.  E. 
Labelle.  These  will  come  to  Canada  by  the  usual 
means,  and  I  am  sorry  that  I  am  not  in  a  position  to 
give  them  now  myself  to  the  gentlemen  who  have 
given  such  signal  service  as  to  win  this  decoration. 

Your  Canadian  soldiers  have  won  the  admiration 
of  France.  I  have  seen  your  men  in  action ;  they  are 
courageous ;  they  are  indomitable  and  marvelous ;  they 
despise  death  and  their  bravery  is  only  equaled  by 
that  of  the  soldiers  of  France. 

Gentlemen,  I  thank  you  for  the  demonstration  you 
have  given  me,  and  I  am  happy  that  I  have  been  able 
during  my  stay  on  this  continent  to  come  up  to  this 
great  city  of  Montreal  for  a  few  hours  to  meet  a 
people  who  show  us  so  warmly  that  we  in  France  have 
a  place  in  their  affections.  All  I  can  say  is,  and  I 
say  it  with  all  my  heart,  **Vive  la  Canada.'' 

Marshal  Joffre,  on  McGill  Campus,  came  face  to  face 
with  men  who  had  served  under  him  in  France.  Some 
limped,  the  arms  of  others  were  disabled  or  gone,  their  uni- 
forms war-worn.  To  the  tune  of  the  fife,  the  throb  of  the 
drum  and  the  cheers  of  the  crowd,  these  men  swung  through 
the  gate  leading  to  the  Campus  with  all  the  enthusiasm 
which  had  taken  them  "over  the  top"  on  the  day  when  they 
got  their  wounds.     Four  hundred  of  them,  back  from  the 


274  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

front,  had  come  to  be  seen  by,  and  to  see,  "Papa"  Joffre. 
They  lined  up  in  review  formation,  one  lone  Australian 
hat  peeping  above  the  familiar  maple  leaf  caps.  Behind 
came  carriage  after  carriage  bearing  men  unable  to  walk. 
Horses  seemed  to  know  whom  they  were  drawing,  since 
they  stepped  out  more  proudly  when  the  cheers  of  onlook- 
ers reached  their  ears. 

M.    VIVIANI   IN   OTTAWA 

Canada,  in  officially  welcoming  M.  Viviani  to  Ottawa,  the 
capital  of  the  Dominion,  on  May  12,  extended  him  the  un- 
precedented honor  of  addressing  its  Parliament  as  a  for- 
eigner. Later,  by  a  cheering  vote,  it  was  ordered  that  his 
speech,  "so  full  of  heart  and  fire,"  be  preserved  in  the  Do- 
minion's records.  Members  of  both  Houses,  many  of  whom 
had  sons  at  the  front,  cheered  him  enthusiastically  and  joined 
in  singing  the  "Marseillaise"  and  "God  Save  the  King." 
After  this  ceremony  he  was  a  guest  of  the  Duke  of  Devon- 
shire, the  Governor  General,  at  Rideau  Hall,  and  later  was 
driven  through  flag-decked  streets,  cheered  by  enthusiastic 
crowds.    Following  is  the  official  translation  of  his  speech : 

As  has  been  said  by  your  Speaker,  Mr.  Rainville,  in 
his  eloquent  address,  we  could  not  possibly  have  passed 
so  close  to  your  country  without  having  an  ardent 
wish  to  visit  it  and  to  pay  our  respects  to  its  citizens, 
with  whose  history  our  own  is  so  intimately  con- 
nected. 

Hardly  had  we  reached  Canada  than  we,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  French  delegation,  were  the  object  of  the 
most  enthusiastic  welcome.  And  as  a  crowning  suc- 
cess, gentlemen,  you  were  so  kind  as  to  confer  on  my 
fellow-citizens  and  myself  the  supreme  honor  of  a 


IN  BOSTON  AND  IN  CANADIAN  CITIES     275 

reception  within  the  precincts  of  this  House,  and  there 
could  be  no  greater  boon,  no  higher  honor,  no  greater 
joy,  than  this  provisional  adoption  into  your  com- 
munity. 

You  may  rest  assured  that  our  fellow-citizens  in 
far  away  France,  when  they  are  apprised  to-morrow 
or  the  day  after,  of  the  honor  which  has  been  con- 
ferred upon  us,  will  have  towards  you  a  high  feeling 
of  gratitude. 

You  have  just  requested  us,  Mr.  Speaker,  not  to 
forget  the  reception  now  tendered  to  us,  and  through 
us,  to  France;  allow  me,  Sir,  to  thank  you.  That 
debt  of  gratitude  which  we  owe  to  your  great  country, 
and  which  the  great  historical  events  in  which  we 
have  participated  in  common,  can  only  have  the  effect 
of  increasing — that  debt  impressed  us  particularly  on 
that  day  when  we  saw  passing  through  the  streets 
of  Paris  your  admirable  Canadian  soldiers  proudly 
bearing  on  their  helmets  the  Maple  Leaf.  At  that 
tragic  hour  we  realized  that  your  motto  of  former 
days — *'I  remember" — ^was  no  vain  formula,  no  mere 
catchword. 

Yes,  you  have  remembered,  and  indeed  it  is  some- 
thing that  strikes  one  with  admiration  to  witness  how 
this  feeling  of  gratitude,  as  a  rule  a  personal  feeling 
lying  in  the  depths  of  the  human  heart  and  con- 
science, diffuses  itself  throughout  democracies  and 
becomes  a  collective  feeling  which  makes  for  the 
greatness  of  the  nation  as  a  whole.  I  remember,  and 
we  have  proof  that  you  have  also  remembered.  First 
of  all,  your  generosity  towards  France  is  unfathom- 


276  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

able.  Of  course,  I  could  not  but  omit  important  facts 
and  be  perhaps  unfair  were  I  to  attempt  an  enumera- 
tion of  your  generous  deeds,  and  of  all  that  you  have 
done  for  France :  field  hospitals  without  number ;  the 
hospital  at  St.  Cloud,  in  which  you  have  reserved 
1,300  beds  for  French  patients,  and  other  hospitals 
everywhere  established  with  a  staff  of  Canadian  nurses 
and  medical  superintendents. 

I  need  not  point  especially  to  the  supreme  sacrifice, 
to  which  you  have  just  given  a  pious  thought  in 
recalling  that  some  members  of  this  House  have  fallen 
at  the  front  in  this  holy  cause;  that  some  are  held 
prisoners  in  Germany,  that  you  gentlemen  of  the 
Parliament  of  Canada  have  given  fifty  of  your  sons 
who,  without  hesitation,  have  gone  over  to  resist  in  the 
name  of  truth  and  justice  the  most  formidable  ava- 
lanche which  barbarity  has  ever  let  loose  on  the  civil- 
ized world. 

Yes,  Sir,  your  Canadians  have  fought  along  with 
English  and  French  troops,  without  paying  any  heed 
to  racial  differences.  Under  the  flags  of  all  the  Allies 
they  have  all  shown  a  similar  courage.  It  must  not 
be  forgotten  that  in  the  month  of  February  of  1915, 
at  Ypres,  in  the  north  of  France,  near  the  Belgian 
frontier,  in  a  country  devastated  by  floods,  after  the 
terrific  assault  of  the  German  soldiers  by  means  of 
asphyxiating  gases — Germany,  the  country  that  has 
caused  science  to  swerve  from  its  true  ends,  and,  in- 
stead of  pouring  its  benefits  upon  mankind,  has  visited 
humanity  with  manifold  evils  and  crimes — ^that  same 
Germany  has  had  to  meet  your  Canadian  soldiers. 


IN  BOSTON  AND  IN  CANADIAN  CITIES     277 

On  that  terrific  day,  your  sons,  rising  in  their  might, 
saved  the  situation. 

And  throughout  many  battles,  throughout  numerous 
and  recent  victories,  the  soldiers  of  Canada  stood  up 
heroically  against  the  foe.  Even  at  this  moment,  we 
have  before  our  eyes  your  boys,  so  alert,  so  athletic, 
so  brave,  the  first  to  storm,  victoriously  carrying  their 
flag  to  those  heights  of  Vimy  which  were  reputed  to 
be  impregnable. 

Hail,  to  all  these  soldiers;  let  us  bow  our  heads 
reverently  before  those  who  fight,  those  who  suffer 
and  those  who  have  laid  down  their  lives  for  their 
country.  They  had  a  clear  perception  of  what  their 
action  meant;  when  they  left  this  country  they  were 
well  aware  that  it  was  not  only  Great  Britain  that 
they  were  called  upon  to  defend,  that  it  was  not  only 
France  that  they  were  going  to  protect  against  the 
attacks  of  invaders; — their  clear  vision  upturned 
towards  Heaven,  detected  the  higher  object ;  they  were 
well  aware  that  it  was  the  sacred  cause  of  humanity, 
of  democracy,  and  of  justice  that  they  were  defend- 
ing. 

Still  laboring  under  the  impression  left  by  such 
glorious  and  recent  events,  we  have  come  here  to 
pay  you  a  visit.  Your  enthusiastic  welcome  only 
serves  to  increase  the  bitterness  of  my  regrets,  as  I 
reflect  on  its  inevitable  brevity;  but  I  am  confident 
that  you  will  be  at  one  with  me  when  I  state  that 
depth  of  feeling  should  not  be  measured  by  the  length 
of  a  visit,  but  rather  by  the  persistence  of  the  feel- 
ings which  are  thereby  instilled  in  the  heart  and  in 


278  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

the  mind.  Such  assurances  of  our  feelings  which  I 
bring  to  you,  I  would  much  have  liked,  after  visiting 
your  beautiful  capital,  to  carry  to  other  cities;  it 
would  have  afforded  me  great  pleasure  to  have  visited 
Toronto,  Quebec,  Montreal,  but  our  time  is  limited, 
and  I  beg  that  you  may  excuse  the  shortness  of  our 
stay,  thinking  only  of  the  sincerity  of  the  feelings  ex- 
pressed in  our  message  to  you. 

It  would  have  been  a  great  satisfaction  to  me  to 
travel  at  leisure  over  this  admirable  country,  think- 
ing and  dreaming  over  past  events  in  your  history 
which,  at  many  points,  is  interlocked  with  our  own 
national  history. 

In  coming  to  this  country  I  desire  to  pay  a  tribute 
to  Great  Britain,  that  land  of  freedom,  whose  sons, 
wherever  they  go,  bring  with  them  emancipation  and 
liberty ;  under  every  sky  her  mission  is  not  to  reduce 
men  to  slavery,  but  to  awaken  consciences  and  arouse 
determinations.  I  should  have  assured 'Great  Britain, 
our  noble  ally,  of  our  gratitude  for  having  rallied  to 
a  man  to  the  rescue  of  France  in  this,  her  supreme 
hour,  because  forsooth  British  statesmen  had  been 
parties  to  a  treaty  guaranteeing  Belgian  neutrality; 
because  England's  pledge  was  not  to  be  denied;  be- 
cause a  nation 's  honor  has  not  two  codes,  nor  a  double 
morality,  and  because  every  country  should  take  up 
arms  and  fight  with  all  its  might  to  redeem  her 
promise. 

I  desire,  also,  to  recall  the  memory  of  our  ancestors, 
those  Frenchmen  who  came  to  this  country  in  olden 
times  and  who  seem  to  have  brought  to  this  soil  all 


IN  BOSTON  AND  IN  CANADIAN  CITIES     279 

the  elegance  of  manners  and  the  beauty  of  France 
and  Normandie.  I  am  happy  to  note  in  their  scions 
the  ancient  and  strong  qualities  which  are  the  reputed 
and  proud  characteristics  of  our  race.  To  them  I  owe 
my  thanks  for  having  maintained  in  all  its  purity  and 
perfection  that  noble  French,  which  language  to-day 
resounds  throughout  the  universe,  which  you,  Mr. 
Speaker,  speak  so  admirably,  and  which  you  know 
in  its  absolute  purity,  partaking  as  it  does  of  the 
limpidity  of  a  stream  and  the  resistance  of  a  metal. 

It  would  have  been  a  pleasure  to  me  had  I  time 
to  note  on  the  bronzed  faces  of  your  country  people 
the  familiar  traits  of  their  brothers,  our  French  peas- 
ants; and  bow  acknowledgment  to  the  virtues  which 
they  share  in  common;  thrift,  assiduity  to  the  daily 
task,  steadfastness,  and  everything  which  contributes 
to  the  strength,  the  valor,  and  the  fame  of  a  nation. 

My  time  is  limited,  and  I  must  beg  your  pardon 
for  abbreviating  my  remarks.  However,  I  would  not 
be  doing  justice  to  the  utterances  which  fell  a  moment 
ago  from  the  mouth  of  your  Speaker  if,  at  this  very 
moment,  and  from  this  time,  from  this  high  situation 
you  have  assigned  to  me,  though  a  stranger  among 
you,  I  did  not,  following  in  the  footsteps  of  the 
speaker  who  preceded  me,  attempt  through  time  and 
space  to  solve  the  serious  problems  brought  on  us  by 
the  war,  including  the  very  carrying  out  of  that 
war. 

In  the  first  place,  what  was  the  origin  of  that  war  ? 
Who  is  responsible  for  having  started  it?  You  men- 
tioned it  in  your  speech,  Mr.  Speaker,  that  bloody  war 


280  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

was  let  loose  on  us  by  the  whim  of  an  absolute  ruler, 
a  ruler  whose  will  is  the  only  law,  who  governs  heed- 
less of  parliament  or  ministerial  responsibilities.  It 
was  let  loose  by  the  pride  and  madness  of  a  whole 
people.  It  was  let  loose  to  destroy  the  free  democ- 
racies and  peace-loving  peoples  of  the  world. 

Who  among  the  peoples  of  the  earth  were  more 
attached  to  universal  peace  than  Great  Britain  and 
France?  France  had  been  vanquished  in  1871 — and 
it  is  no  longer  an  humiliation  to  us  to  recall  that 
defeat,  since  in  the  meantime  we  have  retrieved  our- 
selves and  find  ourselves  once  more  in  a  position  to 
face  our  enemies.  Such  was  our  liking  for  peace 
that  while  with  tearful  eyes  we  looked  over  the  war- 
ridden  boundary,  while  we  peered  over  the  border  at 
our  provinces  of  Alsace  and  Lorraine,  and  while  we 
carried  in  our  breast  a  bleeding  wound  which  could 
not  be  healed,  yet  so  as  not  to  trouble  the  world's 
peace,  though  not  forgetful  of  the  past,  we  kept  still. 
Such  was  our  attitude. 

Then,  as  regards  Great  Britain,  which  German  slan- 
ders charged  with  having  brought  on  the  war,  she  had 
not  even  thought  of  establishing  military  conscrip- 
tion ;  she  had  not  provided  a  fighting  machine,  lacking 
which  war  becomes  impossible;  she  was  thinking  of 
universal  peace  only,  and  of  providing  work  for  and 
insuring  the  freedom  of  nations. 

Both  these  nations  were  attacked,  France,  Great 
Britain,  and  also  Russia.  It  was  a  challenge  sent 
out  to  the  whole  civilized  world,  and  then  it  was  a 
question,  not  as  to  whether  we  were  going  to  fight  for 


IN  BOSTON  AND  IN  CANADIAN  CITIES     281 

the  acquisition  of  territory,  not  as  to  whether  we 
should  recover  sections  of  provinces,  but  as  to  whether 
free  men  would  be  allowed  to  enjoy  the  warmth  and 
light  of  liberty. 

Such  is  the  great  struggle  which  is  going  on  be- 
tween triumphant  autocracy,  which  already  we  have 
struck  down  on  the  battlefield;  such  is  the  great 
struggle  between  triumphant  autocracy,  bent  on  rul- 
ing over  the  world,  and  democracy,  whose  sole  aim 
is  to  regenerate  it.  Such  is  the  great  struggle  be- 
tween absolute  rulers,  who  consider  as  mere  posses- 
sions the  peoples  over  whom  they  rule,  who  aim  at 
laying  hands  on  men's  bodies,  and  democracy,  whose 
object  is  to  elevate  the  mind,  the  conscience  and  the 
soul. 

And  notice  what  wonderful  changes  have  taken 
place  in  Great  Britain  and  France.  Some  time  previ- 
ous to  the  war  those  two  nations  had  come  closer  to 
one  another  and  had  concluded,  many  years  ago, 
Tentente  cordiale.  This  reference  to  Tentente  cor- 
diale  concluded  between  France  and  Great  Britain 
reminds  me  necessarily  of  your  former  Governor, 
Lord  Lansdowne,  whom  I  had  the  honor  to  meet  in 
London  some  years  ago,  one  of  the  keenest  and  shrewd- 
est thinkers  in  Great  Britain,  and  who,  no  doubt, 
because  he  had  long  lived  among  you  and  because  he 
had  come  to  know  France  through  knowing  Canada, 
came  back  to  Great  Britain  with  a  desire  to  establish 
Tentente  cordiale  and  bring  the  two  countries  closer 
together. 

Here  I  am  bound  to  pay  my  respects  to  the  memory 


282  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

of  Edward  YII  who  was  the  enthusiastic  artisan  of 
the  bringing  together  of  those  two  great  democratic 
and  free  nations,  because  his  clear  insight  into  condi- 
tions generally  had  satisfied  him  that  such  a  result 
was  practical  and  in  order.  Neither  can  I  proceed 
any  further  without  paying  homage  to  his  successor 
on  the  throne  who  with  a  strong  hand  in  that  tragic 
moment  of  history  brought  about  the  practical  results 
implied  in  the  entente  cordiale  as  formerly  concluded. 
What  an  admirable  example  was  set  to  us  by  those 
two  countries.  Great  Britain  had  remained  aloof  from 
conscription;  she  had  applied  her  whole  activity  to 
forwarding  industry,  trade,  and  building  up  her  navy. 
And  when  the  hour  of  danger  came,  when  she  felt 
that  a  few  thousand  men  would  not  be  sufficient  to 
resist  the  onslaught;  when  she  realized  that  the  war 
would  be  won  not  solely  through  the  bravery  of  her 
children,  through  the  courage  of  her  soldiers,  but  that 
munitions,  guns  and  munition  factories  would  be  in- 
dispensable; then  as  by  a  miracle  at  the  call  of  the 
Government,  not  only  in  Great  Britain  but  in  Ireland 
and  throughout  its  possessions  and  colonies — for  the 
British  colonies  to  Germany's  great  surprise  rallied 
to  their  mother  country  in  the  hour  of  danger — not 
only  munition  factories  and  guns  and  projectiles,  but 
thousands  and  thousands  of  men,  five  hundred  thou- 
sand, one  million,  one  million  and  a  half  British  sol- 
diers, including  your  own  Canadian  boys,  stood  up 
and  entered  the  fray  alongside  their  French  comrades. 
Such  is  the  admirable  spectacle  which  Great  Britain 


IN  BOSTON  AND  IN  CANADIAN  CITIES     283 

presents  to  the  wondering  eyes  and  consciences  of 
the  world. 

I  am  quite  aware  that  German  calumnies  must  have 
reached  this  country;  it  is  even  likely  that  they  have 
found  their  way  to  your  minds  and  hearts;  we  do 
not  feel  humiliated  because  before  the  war  you  may 
have  thought,  on  the  faith  of  what  was  so  often  re- 
peated, that  France  was  a  lost  country,  corrupt,  dis- 
solute, frivolous,  catering  solely  to  its  pleasures,  and 
so  much  rent  by  political  dissensions  that  when  the 
great  struggle  would  come,  Germany  would  be  facing 
not  men  but  a  divided  army,  easy  to  scatter.  Well, 
you  have  been  witnesses  of  what  France  is  capable; 
that  wonderful  France,  standing  undefeated  because 
her  sons  keep  up  both  with  the  traditions  of  the  past 
and  the  traditions  of  the  Revolution.  You  have  seen 
what  her  genius  can  effect,  the  same  genius  that  has 
emancipated  a  large  section  of  humanity.  We  had 
arms ;  we  had  an  army.  But  what  could  our  army  do, 
with  only  40,000,000  of  inhabitants  to  draw  from,  in 
a  struggle  against  the  Germans  who  for  the  last  forty- 
five  years  have  been  perfecting  their  war  machine  in 
order  to  hurl  it  against  our  country.  We  gave  way 
at  first,  both  British  and  French ;  we  gave  way  before 
the  storm;  we  were  not  in  sufficient  numbers,  but 
we  righted  ourselves  after  the  battle  of  the  Marne. 

How  has  that  been  possible?  It  is  because  the 
world's  estimate  of  France  was  not  true. 

There  are  political  parties  in  France;  every  free 
democracy  is  made  up  of  parties  who  struggle  for 
supremacy,  who  hold  different  tenets,  who  do  not 


284  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

monotonously  copy  each  other's  gestures  and  state- 
ments. What  counts,  after  all,  is  that  at  the  supreme 
hour  all  citizens  unite  in  a  common  sacrifice  on  the 
altar  of  their  country ;  what  does  count  is  that  every 
citizen  should  remember  that  before  belonging  to  any 
political  party  he  owes  allegiance  to  his  country;  no 
political  divisions  would  be  possible. 

Well,  what  country  could  have  done  better  than 
France  to  bring  about  this  great  sacred  alliance? 
Everlastingly  shall  I  remember,  as  the  greatest  honor 
that  was  mine  in  all  my  career,  that  eventful  4th  of 
August,  when  I  entered  into  the  French  House  of 
Representatives  with  the  declaration  of  war  that  had 
been  communicated  to  me,  as  President  of  the  French 
Cabinet,  by  Mr.  de  Schoen  on  the  previous  day.  My 
colleague,  the  Marquis  de  Chambrun,  a  member  of 
the  French  Parliament,  will  also  recall  the  occurrence. 
There  were  all  the  members  standing,  quivering  with 
emotion,  all  the  galleries  filled  with  wives  and  moth- 
ers who  were  going  to  send  to  the  front  their  husbands 
or  their  sons ;  everybody  standing ;  no  more  political 
parties ;  no  more  groups ;  none  but  Frenchmen  recon- 
ciled in  their  devotion  to  their  country.  And  as  days 
followed  days,  all  parties  rallied  to  the  same  flag  and 
put  on  the  same  uniform.  Catholics  no  more;  free- 
thinkers no  more;  Socialists  no  more;  Radicals  no 
more ;  Conservatives  no  more,  but  all  children  of  the 
one  France.  All  Frenchmen,  leaving  aside  their  old 
disputes,  came  to  the  common  conclusion  that  there 
was  no  necessity  to  arouse  political  differences;  that 
before  fighting  between  ourselves  it  was  first  of  all 


IN  BOSTON  AND  IN  CANADIAN  CITIES     285 

necessary  to  keep  under  our  feet  a  free  soil,  an  un- 
divided France.  As  one  man,  we  shouldered  our  ^ns, 
and  it  is  that  wonderful  unity,  that  sacred  unity,  that 
has  given  us  and  will  give  us  victory. 

I  join  with  you,  Mr.  Speaker,  in  hailing  this  vic- 
tory. It  should  by  all  means  break  forth  to  the  full 
knowledge  of  humanity;  indeed,  if  this  great  effort 
of  ours  should  not  be  crowned  by  victory,  then  I 
must  say  there  never  was  waged  a  war  so  disastrous 
to  the  nations  of  the  world.  In  former  days  nations 
have  suffered  grievously  through  defeat;  but  such 
wars  were  struggles  between  armies,  and  differences 
were  settled  through  a  treaty  of  peace ;  while  in  this 
war  we  are  the  spectators  of  a  struggle  between  con- 
flicting types  of  minds  and  nations.  At  present,  I 
repeat,  what  is  at  stake  is  not  territorial  aggrandize- 
ment— it  is  more  than  that — it  is  the  freedom  of  the 
world. 

You  Canadians  who  listen  to  me,  you  freemen  who 
sit  in  this  Parliament,  pray  mark  my  words.  I  realize 
that  you  are  farther  away  than  we  are  from  the  bat- 
tlefields; the  roar  of  guns  does  not  reach  your  ears; 
you  do  not  see  the  return  of  large  numbers  of  wounded 
men;  but  morally  speaking,  you  are  just  as  close  as 
we  are  to  the  fray.  Confronting  one  another  we  have 
autocracy  and  democracy,  and  should,  perchance,  the 
freedom  fail  to  win  the  war,  democracy  and  universal 
justice  would  be  defeated  at  the  same  time.  It  was 
in  the  cause  of  justice  that  at  all  epochs  we  drew  the 
sword ;  it  was  in  the  cause  of  justice  that  Great  Britain 
and  France,  together  with  their  noble  allies,  entered 


286  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

the  war;  it  is  to  enable  the  children  of  men  to  enjoy 
after  the  war  the  advantages  of  a  well  assured  and 
prolonged  peace  that  we  are  fighting. 

Mothers  who  now  listen  to  me,  it  is  for  your  chil- 
dren's freedom,  it  is  to  prevent  the  recurrence  of  any 
wars  and  to  secure  the  peace  of  the  world,  that  a 
whole  generation  is  now  giving  its  blood,  and  making 
to-day  the  supreme  sacrifice. 

Let  a  pious  thought  accompany  those  who  go  to 
the  front.  All  laudatory  epithets  have  been  ex- 
hausted; there  is  nothing  left  to  say  in  their  praise 
but  that  some  have  given  their  life  for  a  sacred  cause 
and  the  others  are  fighting  for  the  liberty  of  all  man- 
kind. Soldiers  of  Justice,  soldiers  of  Truth,  soldiers 
fighting  for  the  right,  your  fame  and  your  courage 
shall  ever  be  an  undying  example  to  Man. 

M.   VIVIANI   IN   BOSTON 

Boston,  on  May  13,  gave  a  warm  greeting  to  M.  Viviani. 
Though  coming  after  the  city  had  outstretched  its  arms  to 
Marshal  Joffre,  he  was  feasted,  toasted  and  cheered  by 
thousands.  Despite  a  cold,  drizzling  rain  that  fell  all  day, 
he  was  taken  through  streets  decorated  with  the  colors  of 
France,  Great  Britain,  and  the  United  States,  and  ap- 
plauded enthusiastically  wherever  he  went.  He  reached 
Boston  from  Ottawa  at  9  :05  a.  m.  The  visit  to  the  Public 
Library  was  the  first  event  on  the  day's  program.  Speak- 
ing from  the  grand  stairway  to  an  audience  that  filled 
every  available  foot  of  space,  M.  Viviani  said: 

I  knew  in  my  heart  that  your  great  country  could 
not  contemplate  the  slaughter  of  innocents,  the  burn- 


IN  BOSTON  AND  IN  CANADIAN  CITIES     287 

ing  of  cathedrals,  and  other  outrages  without  throw- 
ing in  your  lot  with  France  and  her  allies.  The  pres- 
ent war  must  be  a  fight  to  the  finish,  and  there  must 
be  only  a  thought  of  victory  in  the  minds  of  all  the 
Allies.  If  a  German  victory  were  possible,  the  free 
peoples  of  the  world,  those  of  America  included,  would 
be  reduced  to  servitude. 

What  a  joy  to  be  with  you  in  this  center  of  in- 
tellect, to  make  a  defile  of  gratitude  before  philan- 
thropists massed  in  a  setting  of  such  marvelous 
beauty.  How  admirable  these  frescoes  by  Purvis  de 
Chavannes,  these  decorations  by  your  noble  Sargent, 
who  made  his  first  studies  in  Paris.  It  seems  to  me 
that  I  am  among  a  population  who  live  by  thought, 
and  that  I  am  near  to  France  in  this  old  city  of  Puri- 
tan traditions,  where  broke  in  1776  the  wave  of  liberty 
started  by  French  philosophers.  I  salute  also  your 
illustrious  university  of  Harvard,  that  center  of  patri- 
otism as  well  as  of  instruction,  which  has  honored 
me  by  voting  to  grant  me  the  degree  of  doctor  of  laws. 

I  salute  the  Harvard  ambulance  service.  I  salute 
that  young  hero,  Norman  Prince,  who  has  died  after 
having  fought  not  only  for  France,  but  for  America, 
because  we  have  the  same  ideals  of  right  and  liberty. 
I  am  not  surprised  that  patriotism  boils  in  this  city 
so  entirely  cultivated.  As  minister  of  public  instruc- 
tion, I  have  seen  how  patriotism  develops  with  in- 
telligence. You  have  not  only  industrial  riches;  you 
are  the  story,  the  hope,  the  soul  of  America. 

After  the  war  I  hope  that  a  development  of  the 
exchange  professorships  between  Harvard  and  France 


288  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

will  bring  us  still  nearer  together.  Brunetiere,  Gaston 
Deschamps  and  others  have  already  brought  you  our 
true  thoughts  in  the  tongue  which  is  the  language  alike 
of  sentiment  and  logic,  emotion  and  reality.  And,  to 
say  nothing  of  your  President  Lowell,  we  have  had 
from  you  such  professors  as  Barrett  Wendell,  author 
of  the  admirable  ''France  of  To-day,"  and  Archibald 
Coolidge. 

Professor  Coolidge  took  advantage  of  a  fortnight's 
holiday  during  his  term  to  visit  Germany,  where  he 
saw  so  impressive  an  army  that  he  returned  saddened, 
believing,  as  he  said,  that  if  there  should  be  war 
France  could  not  resist.  But  at  Nancy,  on  his  way 
back,  he  happened  to  see  a  review  of  our  20th  corps. 
''After  that,"  he  said,  "I  felt  that  you  might  hope 
success. ' '  This  20th  corps  was  what  saved  the  day  for 
Gen.  De  Castelnau  at  Verdun,  eight  years  after  Pro- 
fessor Coolidge 's  prophecy. 

Another  development  much  to  be  hoped  for  after  the 
war  is  an  increase  in  the  exchange  of  scholarships, 
for  which  Prof.  Charles  Grandgent  of  Harvard  and 
others  have  such  promising  plans.  Certainly  we  may 
hope  that  your  students  will  hereafter  come  to  the 
Sorbonne  in  preference  to  the  universities  of  Ger- 
many. 

I  have  never  been  alarmed  at  your  political  or 
technical  neutrality,  for  I  knew  well  in  my  heart  that 
you  could  not  contemplate  calmly  the  fusillading  of 
priests,  the  sacking  of  cathedrals,  the  wringing  of  our 
hearts  by  crimes  never  before  equaled.  It  is  against 
that  banditry  of  an  enemy  who  jumped  at  our  throats, 


IN  BOSTON  AND  IN  CANADIAN  CITIES     289 

that  Jew  and  Protestant,  Socialist  and  Royalist,  the 
men  of  all  minds  are  fighting  in  Lorraine  and  Flan- 
ders. 

If  Germany  should  win,  yon  too  would  be  reduced 
to  servitude,  utter  submission  of  word  and  thought, 
before  the  Prussian  militarism  which  is  trying  to  kill 
the  conscience  of  humanity.  But  we  know  that  you 
fight  not  merely  for  material  ends.  Let  us  draw 
nearer  across  the  distance,  and  go  forward  together 
to  save  civilization  and  democracy. 

From  the  library  the  party  hurried  to  306  Boylston 
Street,  where  they  inspected  the  local  headquarters  of  the 
American  Fund  for  French  Wounded  and  expressed  grati- 
tude to  the  workers.  A  similar  visit  followed  to  the  Peter 
Bent  Brigham  Hospital,  headquarters  of  the  surgical  dress- 
ings committee.  "France  will  not  forget  what  you  have 
done,"  M.  Viviani  said,  in  reply  to  addresses  of  welcome 
from  Charles  Curtis,  President  of  the  trustees,  and  Mrs. 
Frederick  Mead.  "On  my  return  I  shall  tell  the  story  of 
your  noble  labors,  persisted  in  not  only  during  months,  but 
long  years;  and  I  am  certain  that  whatever  aspect  the  war 
assumes,  and  despite  your  participation,  you  will  never 
forget  our  wounded  as  long  as  they  continue  to  fall  on  the 
battlefields."  At  President  Lowell's  house  M.  Viviani  ex- 
pressed his  regret  at  having  been  unable  to  attend  the  ex- 
ercises in  Sanders  Theater  on  Saturday  to  receive  the  de- 
gree that  was  to  have  been  given  him.  Librarian  W.  C. 
Lane,  Director  Archibald  Coolidge,  Evart  Jansen  Wendell 
and  others  then  escorted  M.  Viviani  through  the  Widener 
Library,  paying  particular  attention  to  the  collection  of 
French  works. 

M.  Viviani  went  next  to  the  City  Club,  where  he  made 


290  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

an  address  which  evoked  a  demonstration  that  he  declared 
would  be  one  of  the  pleasantest  memories  of  his  mission 
to  America.  Encouraged,  evidently,  by  a  realization  that 
a  large  percentage  of  his  2,000  auditors  followed  his  French 
words  without  much  difficulty,  he  spoke  for  nearly  an  hour. 
The  City  Club  in  this  affair  established  two  precedents — 
one  by  giving  a  dinner  to  a  guest  on  a  Sunday,  and  another 
by  standing  as  long  as  the  speaker  was  talking.  The  only 
smile  that  lightened  the  grave  face  of  the  orator  broke 
over  it  when,  at  the  conclusion  of  his  address,  the  presiding 
officers  called  for  a  "rising  vote"  of  thanks.  When  the 
laughter  had  ceased,  a  show  of  hands  from  men  already  on 
their  feet  was  substituted.  M.  Viviani  had  reached  the 
club  shortly  before  7  o'clock,  and  was  taken  to  the  great 
auditorium  on  the  fifth  floor,  where  tremendous  bursts  of 
cheering  were  again  and  again  renewed.  No  pen-picture 
could  depict  the  flaming  enthusiasm  which  his  address 
aroused.  Many  had  to  catch  his  meaning  from  his  flash- 
ing eyes,  the  tones  of  his  voice  and  the  gestures  with  which 
he  reenforced  his  words  as  to  and  fro  he  paced  the  plat- 
form.    He  said; 

I  thank  first  the  chairman  of  this  club,  who  has 
given  us  welcome,  and  then  I  thank  the  members  of 
this  club  who  have  applauded  us.  I  am  extremely 
glad  to  be  a  guest  of  this  organization,  which  includes 
in  its  membership  men  of  all  classes  of  society. 

It  is  especially  of  interest  for  me  to  be  in  a  country 
where  such  a  club  is  possible.  In  France,  and  gen- 
erally in  Europe,  such  gatherings  are  not  yet  pos- 
sible, but  may  be  very  soon.  To  us  members  of  the 
French  commission  it  has  been  a  wonderful  spectacle 


IN  BOSTON  AND  IN  CANADIAN  CITIES     291 

to  see  hundreds  and  thousands  of  men  gathered  in 
an  organization  like  this. 

Your  club  is  a  great  school  of  civic  life.  It  gives 
to  men  who  are  at  work  during  the  day  the  opportun- 
ity to  gather  of  an  evening  for  the  exchange  of  ideas 
and  for  the  development  of  plans  for  giving  them  ef- 
fect. 

Boston  we  regard  as  the  foremost  city  for  intel- 
lect in  the  United  States,  and  it  is  the  last  place  in 
your  country  where  we  may  address  a  public  gather- 
ing before  returning  to  complete  our  business  at  Wash- 
ington. 

Three  weeks  we  have  been  in  this  country,  and  I 
want  to  say  that  the  sincerity  and  enthusiasm  of 
our  reception  will  not  be  lost.  We  have  gained  a  deep 
impression  from  your  expressions,  public  and  private, 
and  I  shall  take  back  to  France  the  knowledge  of 
the  splendid  reception  we  have  had  in  America. 

Beyond  that  is  our  gratitude  for  the  charity  you 
have  shown  for  our  wounded  soldiers  and  orphaned 
children.  You  have  translated  your  sympathies  into 
action,  and  to-day  I  had  another  evidence  of  your 
care  for  us  when  I  visited  the  Peter  Bent  Bingham 
Hospital. 

I  learned  there — and  it  is  all  too  insufficiently 
known  in  France,  that  an  enormous  quantity  of  ma- 
terial, made  by  the  ladies  of  Boston,  as  well  as  more 
generally  by  the  ladies  of  Massachusetts,  has  gone 
from  this  community  to  aid  the  wounded  soldiers  of 
France. 

As  to  the  sentiments  expressed  in  your  Public  Li- 


292  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

brary  to-day,  words  would  fail  to  express  our  grati- 
tude for  them.  We  have  literally  felt  the  heart  of 
America  and  the  heart  of  Boston. 

We  are  all  happy  to  be  here  and  to  be  able  to  say  our 
last  public  words  before  we  return  to  Washington. 
Sometimes  we  feel  humiliated  at  the  thought  that  per- 
haps we  do  not  merit  this  outflowing  of  American 
sentiment  for  France,  but  we  are  proud  of  it  all  the 
same. 

Of  course,  America  has  joined  France  in  the  war. 
But  that  is  not  so  much  the  paying  of  a  debt  of  grati- 
tude for  the  cooperation  given  you  by  us  during  your 
war  for  American  independence. 

Lafayette  when  he  came  here  did  not  come  so  much 
to  help  the  then  young  America  as  to  promote  the 
sentiments  of  liberty  and  democracy  which  were  then 
being  expressed  by  our  thinkers  and  the  philosophers 
of  the  18th  century,  men  like  Montesquieu,  Rousseau, 
Voltaire  and  others. 

The  thing  now  for  everybody,  in  view  of  the  colos- 
sal struggle  in  Europe,  is  for  everybody  to  do  his 
duty.  History  will  retain  from  this  war  only  the 
names  of  the  most  prominent  statesmen  and  generals ; 
the  names  of  the  thousands  of  anonymous  heroes  will 
be  forgotten. 

But  all  these  men,  as  well  as  all  their  relations, 
have  the  great  comfort  of  feeling  that  those  who  fall 
fall  for  humanity,  and  that  as  a  result  of  the  sacri- 
fice, their  descendants  will  be  free  in  the  future  from 
the  curse  of  autocracy  embodied  in  German  mili- 
tarism. 


IN  BOSTON  AND  IN  CANADIAN  CITIES     293 

You  men  of  America  have  earned  and  receive  the 
love  of  France.  Your  record  in  the  Civil  War  shows 
what  you  will  be  in  this  conflict.  You  join  us  in 
the  struggle  that  is  on  not  only  for  America,  for 
France,  for  Belgium,  Great  Britain  and  Russia,  but 
for  all  humanity. 

Your  flag  has  48  stars,  one  for  each  state.  Each  of 
your  states  has  its  own  legislature  and  yet  they  are 
all  under  the  federal  law.  It  is  not  too  much  to  hope 
that  one  day  all  the  countries  now  allied  in  the  Euro- 
pean war  may  form  a  similar  ** United  States,"  each 
retaining  its  own  form  of  administration,  yet  all  owing 
allegiance  to  a  common  law. 

And  that  will  prevent  the  recurrence  of  conditions 
which  make  it  possible  for  some  mad  autocrat  to  play 
havoc  with  the  whole  of  Europe. 

THE  PRINCE   IN  BOSTON 

A  demonstration  in  Boston  which  many  thought  rivaled 
that  accorded  to  Marshal  Joffre  was  given  on  June  25  to 
the  Prince  of  Udine  and  other  members  of  the  Italian  Com- 
mission. "Little  Italy,"  the  North  End  colony,  which  num- 
bered nearly  50,000  persons,  made  the  occasion  a  holiday, 
and  fairly  bubbled  in  the  exuberance  of  its  welcome.  Bands 
played  martial  airs  at  the  principal  street  corners.  Young 
women  in  white  dresses  saluted  the  Prince  with  a  bom- 
bardment of  flowers  as  his  automobile  passed.  The  day 
was  filled  with  activities.  First  on  the  program  was  a 
visit  to  the  Public  Library.  Then  the  Prince  went  to  the 
State  House,  where  he  appeared  before  the  convention 
which  was  revising  the  State's  Constitution.  Later  he  was 
whirled  through  shouting  crowds  in  the  North  End  and  on 


294  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

to  the  Boston  Navy  Yard,  where  he  went  aboard  a  cruiser. 
Crossing  the  harbor  under  the  escort  of  other  cruisers  and 
submarine  chasers,  he  visited  the  Fore  River  Shipbuilding 
Corporation's  plant  at  Quincy,  where  he  saw  sixty  vessels 
under  construction,  among  them  many  warships  of  various 
types,  from  slender  submarines  to  great  battle  cruisers. 

Returning  to  the  city,  the  Commissioners  became  the  cen- 
tral figures  in  a  Red  Cross  parade,  which  included  detach- 
ments from  the  regular  army,  the  navy.  National  Guard, 
and  Ambulance  Corps.  Prominent  among  the  bodies  in 
line  was  a  company  of  129  recruits  for  the  regular  army, 
obtained  in  Boston  in  three  days,  all  of  them  native  Ital- 
ians or  of  Italian  extraction.  The  Prince,  at  a  banquet 
tendered  by  the  State  and  city,  said  Italy,  although  a  king- 
dom, was  fighting  the  same  fight  that  the  United  States 
had  entered  upon — "a  struggle  for  democracy  and  free- 
dom^': 

When  we  shall  return  to  Italy,  when  we  shall  go 
back  to  war,  we  shall  feel  encouraged  by  the  recol- 
lection of  the  warm  hospitality  we  have  found  among 
you.  "Whatever  be  the  strength  and  the  insidious  de- 
vices of  the  enemy,  we  must  win.  The  United  States 
will  have  the  great  honor  of  having  contributed  by 
their  mighty  energies  to  the  destinies  of  the  world's 
democracies.  By  proclaiming  war  your  illustrious 
President  has  associated  his  name  with  history.  By 
leading  your  country  to  victory,  by  helping  to  free 
the  world  from  the  oppression  of  military  oligarchies, 
he  will  add  new  glory  and  new  fame  to  the  already 
great  glory  and  fame  of  America. 

The  members  of  the  commission  left  late  that  night  for 
Washington. 


VII 
LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME 

THE  LAST  TWO  SPEECHES  BY  MB.  BALFOUR  IN  WASHINGTON" 

Mr.  Balfour,  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  all  reached 
Washington  again  by  the  morning  of  May  14.  A  few  hours 
afterwards,  at  11:30  p.  m.,  Joseph  H.  Choate  died  sud- 
denly at  his  home  in  New  York.  Mr.  Choate  had  long 
been  recognized  as  New  York's  first  citizen.  Although  he 
had  celebrated  his  eighty-fifth  birthday  on  January  25,  he 
had  displayed  extraordinary  vitality  as  chairman  of  the 
reception  committee  during  all  the  incidents  of  this  wel- 
come to  the  British  and  French  commissions,  even  to  the 
last,  when  on  Sunday,  May  13,  he  went  with  Mr.  Balfour 
to  the  Cathedral  of  St.  John  the  Divine  for  the  morning 
service.  Widely  as  the  public  loss  was  felt,  the  time  and 
manner  of  his  death  were  recognized  as  having  in  them 
something  fit  and  beautiful.  His  death  was  believed  to 
have  been  hastened  by  his  great  exertions;  in  fact,  he  had 
made  those  exertions  against  the  advice  of  his  physician 
and  against  his  own  judgment  as  to  the  risk  he  was  taking. 

The  chief  members  of  the  British  and  French  missions 
prepared  soon  to  return  to  their  own  countries,  and  were 
to  depart  unannounced.  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre 
had  interviews  with  President  Wilson  on  May  14  which 
were  in  the  nature  of  farewells.  Mr.  Balfour  spent  prac- 
tically that  whole  day  in  resting,  but  did  not  depart  from 

295 


296  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Washington  for  ten  days.  He  had  first  to  arrange  for  a 
permanent  British  office  in  Washington  in  charge  of  ex- 
perts in  military  and  naval  affairs,  and  Lord  Northcliffe 
was  soon  to  arrive  from  London  to  take  charge  of  impor- 
tant matters  with  an  office  in  New  York. 

There  yet  remained  for  Mr.  Balfour  a  few  more  appear- 
ances in  public.  On  May  17,  he  and  other  members  of  the 
mission  who  had  received  degrees  from  Oxford  or  Cam- 
bridge, were  made  honorary  members  of  the  Phi  Beta 
Kappa  Society,  at  an  impressive  ceremony  at  the  resi- 
dence in  Washington  where  they  had  their  headquarters. 
The  election  came  from  the  Alpha  Chapter  of  Virginia, 
which  was  founded  at  William  and  Mary  College  in  1776. 
In  his  speech  Mr.  Balfour  said: 

Mr.  President  and  Brethren  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa 
Society:  I,  on  behalf  of  myself  and  on  behalf  of 
my  friends,  thank  you  for  allowing  us  to  take  part 
in  this  service,  the  memory  of  which  will  rest  with 
us  as  long  as  life  exists.  You  have  welcomed  us  as 
the  mission  from  Great  Britain.  You  have  welcomed 
those  members  of  the  mission  who  belonged  to  sister 
universities  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  and 
you  have  conferred  upon  us  the  highest  honor  which 
you  can  give  or  it  is  in  our  power  to  receive.  We 
most  sincerely  thank  you  for  what  you  have  done. 

In  the  eloquent  and  moving  speeches  which  have 
to-day  been  delivered  by  your  President  and  others 
who  have  taken  part  in  the  ceremonies,  little  has  been 
said  of  matters  strictly  academic.  They  were  present 
to  our  minds,  but  they  lay,  and  rightly  lay,  in  the 
background.  You  who  are  present  represent,  and 
in  a  lesser  degree  I  suppose  we  can  claim  to  repre- 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    297 

sent,  the  academic  life  and  training  of  the  two  great 
countries,  and  the  fact  that  we  should  meet  together 
and  deal  in  the  main  with  matters  which  are  inter- 
national and  political,  rather  than  with  matters  which 
are  in  the  strictest  and  narrowest  sense  academic, 
shows  the  great  truth,  or  what  I  deem  to  be  a  great 
truth,  that  learning  and  study,  if  they  be  divorced 
from  the  realities  of  life  and  social  life,  lose  more 
than  half  their  worth. 

I  understand,  and  others  this  morning  have  re- 
minded us,  that  this  meeting  is  a  symbol  of  all  that 
represents  the  culture  and  education,  or  most  of  what 
represents  the  culture  and  education,  in  these  two 
great  nations  that  are  now  united  in  the  pursuit  of 
one  great  common  cause.  Let  us  take  it  for  granted, 
then. 

The  history  of  the  society,  of  which  we  are  the 
youngest  members,  is  a  happy  illustration  of  the  truth 
which  I  have  just  insisted  upon ;  for,  if  I  rightly  un- 
derstand the  history  of  the  society,  it  was  born  in 
the  stress  and  conflict  of  a  great  national  crisis.  The 
crisis  we  are  living  through  to-day  is  possibly  a  great- 
er crisis  than  that  which  struck  this  country  in  1776. 
It  is  one  the  importance  of  which  extends  far  be- 
yond the  boundaries  of  this  community  and  touches 
the  whole  world,  not  in  America  alone,  not  in  Europe 
only,  but  wherever  the  ideals  of  Christian  civiliza- 
tion have  come  to  flourish. 

Gentlemen,  it  surely  is  a  great  thing  to  feel  that 
all  of  us  who  have  in  common  a  university  training, 
whether  it  has  been  carried  out  here  or  in  Britain, 


298  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

have  the  same  noble  traditions  which  have  been  main- 
tained for  all  these  centuries;  it  is  a  great  thing  to 
feel  that  we  are  one.  You,  Mr.  President,  observed, 
with  truth,  that  we  are  largely  if  not  wholly  of  a 
common  stock,  but  that  blood  is  but  a  poor  cement — 
I  think  that  was  your  phrase — is  but  a  poor  and  weak 
cement,  if  that  which  it  is  meant  to  cement  is  not 
bound  together  by  ties,  spiritual  ties,  more  fervent 
and  more  gripping  than  anything  that  could  be  con- 
ferred by  any  accident  of  heredity.  That  surely  is 
so. 

Whether  they  are  students  of  American  universi- 
ties or  whether  they  are  students  of  British  universi- 
ties, they  have  a  bond  of  union  stronger  than  lan- 
guage, than  literature,  than  law.  Stronger  these  bonds 
are  and  should  be.  They  have  the  bond  of  common 
hopes,  of  common  purposes,  of  nations  making  com- 
mon sacrifices  for  one  great  end,  and  that  end  is  not 
only  that  of  American  universities  and  British  uni- 
versities, not  merely  the  future  culture  of  economic 
progress  of  these  two  great  and  free  communities,  but 
in  addition  to  these  causes,  in  themselves  sufficiently 
great  to  fill  the  minds  and  kindle  the  imaginations  of 
even  the  most  sluggish,  we  can  surely  say  for  our- 
selves that  we  have  in  our  guardianship  gathered  here 
to-day  that  we  have  in  our  keeping,  the  future  free- 
dom of  the  world,  and  success  in  our  efforts  means 
the  future  civilization  of  the  world. 

These  are  thoughts  which  I  should  hardly  have  ven- 
tured to  refer  to  on  such  an  occasion  as  this,  before 
a  society  so  strictly  academic  in  its  character  as  this, 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    299 

had  not  the  example  been  set  in  the  noble  address  of 
your  President  and  others,  and  I  should  otherwise 
not  have  trespassed  beyond  the  relatively  narrow 
bounds  of  purely  academic  interests  and  ventured  to 
go  into  those  wider  spheres  of  policy  and  humanity 
which  are  in  all  our  thoughts  at  this  great  and  solemn 
moment  of  our  history. 

On  behalf  of  my  friends  and  myself  I  beg  to  thank 
you  for  the  greatest  honor  which  you  could  possibly 
confer  or  which  we  could  possibly  receive. 

The  only  other  foreigners  who  had  ever  been  elected  to 
honorary  membership  in  Phi  Beta  Kappa  were  Ambassa- 
dor Jusserand  and  Lord  Bryce,  formerly  British  Ambas- 
sador to  the  United  States. 

On  May  19  Mr.  Balfour  made  his  visit  to  Richmond,  as 
described  in  an  earlier  chapter.*  On  May  22  American  cot- 
ton manufacturers,  who  had  gathered  in  Washington  to 
appoint  a  War  Committee  for  cooperation  with  the  Gov- 
ernment, were  addressed  by  Mr.  Balfour.  Introduced  by 
Secretary  Daniels,  he  received  an  enthusiastic  welcome,  and 
said: 

None  of  us  suspected  when  this  great  war  was 
started  that  the  United  States,  thousands  of  miles 
away,  would  be  drawn  into  it.  And  yet  I  think  in 
looking  back  that  the  logic  of  events  was  irresistible. 
From  the  beginning  there  has  been  but  one  choice, 
and  that  choice  inevitable.  The  United  States  has  not 
hesitated  to  take  it,  and  now  that  she  has  taken  it 
she  will  not  withdraw,  I  am  confident,  until  the  ob- 
jects sought  are  attained. 

*See  pages  64-72. 


300  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Germany,  by  her  insensate  policies,  has  forced  this 
country  of  unbounded  resources  to  throw  all  her  pow- 
er, all  her  wealth,  but,  more  than  that,  all  her  moral 
strength,  into  the  issue.  America  seeks  no  vulgar 
ends,  no  territorial  aggrandizement,  no  mean  gain. 
All  of  us  would  feel  defeated  and  dishonored  if  we 
do  not  leave  the  world  free  from  the  menace  that 
is  hanging  over  it,  that  has  been  growing  every  dec- 
ade, yes,  every  month,  more  dangerous. 

Only  the  historian  of  the  far  future  will  be  able 
to  see  all  the  causes  and  all  the  cross  currents  of  this 
monster  struggle.  We  here  to-day  cannot  project  our 
gaze  sufficiently  to  envisage  it  all.  The  world's  his- 
tory has  been  full  of  the  outpourings  of  blood,  the 
squandering  of  money  and  the  wastage  of  resources  in 
war,  and  in  almost  every  case  the  impartial  historian 
has  been  able  to  find  something  to  say  for  both  sides. 
I  do  honestly  feel,  however,  that  there  will  be  no  hesi- 
tation or  doubt  possible  in  this  present  war. 

As  the  war  began  with  the  cynical,  outrageous  op- 
pression of  a  little  nation  away  down  in  the  Balkans 
and  went  through  the  brutal  violation  of  another  small 
country  to  the  north,  so  it  is  continuing.  No  excuse 
can  be  offered  for  the  cold-blooded,  calculating  aggres- 
sion which  has  marked  the  course  of  the  military  au- 
tocracy which  has  plunged  not  only  Europe  but  every 
quarter  of  the  civilized  globe  into  untold  suffering  and 
raised  up  for  itself  an  undreamed  of  vengeance. 

The  British  Navy  at  this  time  paid  tribute  in  Washing- 
ton to  the  memory  of  Admiral  Dewey,  a  floral  wreath  being 
placed  on  his  tomb  by  Rear  Admiral  de  Chair  and  Com- 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    301 

mander  Lawford,  under  instructions  from  London,  to  com- 
memorate the  friendship  between  the  two  great  fighting 
forces,  as  well  as  to  express  the  British  Navy^s  gratitude 
at  the  recent  arrival  of  American  destroyers  in  British 
waters.  The  wreath,  which  was  laid  in  the  presence  of 
Admiral  Benson  and  other  American  oflBcers,  bore  this  in- 
scription : 

A  tribute  to  the  undying  memory  of  George  Dewey, 
Admiral  of  the  United  States  Navy,  with  the  respect- 
ful homage  and  esteem  of  the  British  Navy. 

Admiral  Dewey  probably  was  closer  to  the  British  Navy 
than  any  other  American  naval  officer,  because  of  the  his- 
toric incident  in  Manila  Bay  in  the  war  with  Spain,  in 
1898,  when  a  German  squadron,  under  Vice  Admiral  von 
Diederichs,  acted  in  a  hostile  manner  towards  the  Ameri- 
can ships  in  the  presence  of  a  British  naval  commander 
who  gave  unmistakable  signs  of  his  readiness  to  give  sup- 
port to  Admiral  Dewey  if  necessary. 

The  conferences  in  Washington  were  now  entering  their 
final  stages.  American  and  British  alike  were  extremely 
gratified  that  there  had  been  no  disagreement  or  obstacle 
raised  to  their  success.  By  working  night  and  day,  all 
leading  phases  of  the  war  problems  that  the  United  States 
desired  to  take  up  had  been  considered  and  agreements 
reached.  Mr.  Balfour  on  May  24  delivered  a  farewell  ad- 
dress to  the  American  people  through  the  Washington  cor- 
respondents, who  had  gathered  for  the  purpose  at  the 
National  Press  Club.  It  was  the  last  speech  made  by  the 
British  statesman  in  the  United  States.  He  had  that  day 
called  on  President  Wilson  at  the  White  House  for  the 
last  time.  Following  is  his  speech  before  the  newspaper 
correspondents : 


302  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Gentlemen,  I  came  to  the  United  States  conscious, 
of  course,  of  the  importance  of  the  mission  with  which 
I  have  been  entrusted  by  the  government;  conscious 
that  the  mission  from  the  very  nature  of  the  case  was 
one  of  the  most  important  in  which  either  of  our 
two  countries  has  ever  concerned  itself ;  conscious  that 
the  very  condition  of  the  world  in  which  we  lived 
gave  weight  and  importance  to  every  action,  to  every 
word,  and  to  every  report  of  every  word  which  might 
take  place  during  its  existence. 

The  kindness  with  which  we  were  received,  the 
warmth  of  the  welcome  which  reached  us  from  all 
parts  of  the  country,  soon  made  it  plain  the  strictly 
and  narrowly  business  side  of  our  mission  was  not  the 
only  one  which  was  important  at  the  present  juncture. 

For  my  own  part  I  have  felt  more  deeply  than  I 
find  it  easy  to  express  the  kindness  of  the  reception 
which  you  have  given  to  the  mission  in  general  and 
to  myself  in  particular.  That  kindness  has  been 
shown  me,  lavishly  shown  me,  in  Washington.  It 
was  shown  not  less  fully  and  not  less  lavishly  in  New 
York  and  in  Richmond,  and  I  only  mourn  that  the 
inevitable  exigencies  of  public  business  make  it  im- 
possible for  me  to  visit  other  parts  of  the  United 
States,  to  communicate  directly  and  personally  with 
men  in  the  Middle  West,  in  the  Far  West  and  in  other 
portions  of  this  colossal  territory,  which  is  already 
occupied  by  the  most  powerful  community  in  the 
world,  and  which  is,  I  think,  destined  in  the  future 
to  have  an  abiding  influence  for  all  that  makes  for 
peaceful  civilization  and  freedom,  and  has  certainly 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    303 

shown  on  the  present  occasion  that  a  great  commun- 
ity can  be  moved  to  perform  great  sacrifices  for  an 
ideal  which  has  in  it  nothing  of  selfishness,  nothing 
of  the  petty  appetite  for  power,  nothing  but  a  pure 
and  unstained  desire  to  benefit  the  cause  of  civilization 
and  of  mankind. 

Gentlemen,  you  have  shown,  during  the  month's 
experience  which  I  have  had  of  your  labors,  that  the 
American  press  is  animated  by  the  highest  patriotic 
principles;  that  it  is  incapable,  or  has  shown  itself, 
so  far  as  I  am  concerned,  as  incapable,  of  misrepre- 
senting or  perverting  in  the  smallest  particular  any- 
thing which  I  may  have  said  or  done.  I  know  that 
it  is  to  you  and  your  friends  that  any  word  I  have 
spoken,  be  it  worth  listening  to  or  not  worth  listening 
to,  at  all  events,  reaches  unperverted  those  for  whom 
it  is  intended.  For  that  I  wish  to  express  to  you  my 
most  grateful  thanks. 

I  came  with  high  hopes  to  Washington.  Those 
hopes  have  been  far  surpassed  by  the  reality.  I  ex- 
pected, from  what  I  knew  of  American  friends  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  that  I  should  be  received 
with  kindness,  with  courtesy  and  with  sympathy ;  but 
the  kindness,  the  courtesy  and  the  sympathy  which 
I  have  received  are  far  in  excess  of  anything  which 
I  dared  hope  for  or  anything  which  I  can  pretend 
even  to  myself  to  have  deserved. 

It  is  a  sad  thought  to  me  that  the  moment  of  part- 
ing has  come,  and  that  those  whom  I  looked  upon  as 
my  friends,  before  I  knew  them,  and  who  have  be- 
come my  friends  in  very  truth  and  indeed  since  I 


304  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

know  them,  I  shall  be  separated  from,  at  all  events, 
during  the  continuance  of  the  present  war.  After 
that,  may  it  be  my  happy  lot  to  return  in  a  less  re- 
sponsible and  official  position  to  renew  the  connec- 
tion for  a  moment  severed  by  the  tragic  events  in 
which  we  are  all  equally  concerned. 

But,  gentlemen,  the  mission  could  not  stay  here 
forever.  It  has  received  a  welcome — a  welcome  which 
none  of  its  members  will  forget — and  to  me  falls  the 
pleasant  duty,  on  my  own  behalf  and  on  behalf  of 
my  friends,  of  saying  to  you,  and  to  all  whom  you 
can  reach,  how  deeply  we  thank  the  American  public 
for  what  they  have  done. 

There  are  those  who  have  said  that  the  prepara- 
tions made  by  the  United  States  are  proceeding  slowly 
and  haltingly,  and  that  a  country  which  has  been  in 
the  war  for  some  forty  days  ought  to  have  done  far 
more  than  has  actually  been  accomplished.  For  my 
own  part,  I  think  those  who  speak  in  accents  like 
that  know  very  little  of  the  actual  way  in  which  pub- 
lic life  is  and  must  be  carried  on  in  free  countries. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  forty  days  of  which  I 
speak  no  preparations  had  been  made;  the  country 
was  anxiously,  indeed,  watching  the  events.  It  had 
not  begun  to  make  any  of  the  preparations  necessary 
for  taking  part  in  a  gigantic  struggle. 

I  think  that  what  has  been  performed  in  those  forty 
days  is  most  remarkable.  It  is  quite  true  that  the  ac- 
tion of  the  executive  government  may  be  delayed,  and 
has  been  delayed,  by  the  fact  that  certain  measures 
before  Congress  took  some  time  to  pass,  and  some 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    305 

of  them  have  not  yet  passed.  But  I  have  lived  with 
representatives  assemblies  all  my  life,  and  who  is  it 
that  supposes  that  representative  assemblies  are  go- 
ing to  make  great  and  new  departures  in  public  pol- 
icy solely  at  the  waving  of  a  wand?  Such  expecta- 
tions are  vain.    It  is  useless  to  entertain  them. 

I  am  quite  confident — I,  perhaps,  feel  more  con- 
fident than,  it  seems  to  me,  one  who  has  had  no 
personal  experience  of  American  politics  should  feel 
— but,  speaking  for  myself,  I  feel  quite  confident  that 
Congress  will  not  refuse  to  the  President  and  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  country  all  powers,  great  as  they  are, 
which  are  absolutely  necessary  if  the  war  is  to  be 
successfully  pursued. 

I  am  not  only  persuaded  that  it  will  give  those  pow- 
ers, but  I  am  persuaded  that  when  those  powers  are 
given,  they  will  be  used  to  the  utmost,  with  as  little 
delay  as  the  imperfection  of  human  institutions  and 
of  human  beings  allow,  to  throw  the  great  and,  I 
believe,  the  decisive  weight  of  America  to  the  full 
extent  into  the  great  contest. 

In  that  belief  I  shall  leave  these  shores.  In  that  be- 
lief I  shall  make  my  report  to  the  allied  governments, 
so  far  as  I  can  reach  them,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Atlantic,  and  in  that  belief  I  look  forward  with  a 
cheerful  confidence  to  days  which  will  undoubtedly 
be  days  of  trial  and  difficulty,  but  beyond  which  we 
surely  can  see  the  dawn  of  a  happier  day,  coming 
not  merely  to  the  kindred  communities  to  which  we 
belong,  but  to  all  mankind  and  all  nations  which  love 
liberty  and  pursue  righteousness. 


306  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Mr.  President,  I  will  say  no  more.  I  thank  you. 
Through  you  I  thank  every  well  wisher  in  America 
for  all  that  you  have  done  for  me  and  for  my  friends. 
I  wish  you  a  farewell.  I  wish  for  a  reunion  at  no 
distant  date,  under  happier  circumstances,  when  we 
can  meet,  not  feeling  that  we  have  to  deal  with  a 
great  crisis  which  requires  all  our  capacity,  all  our 
courage,  and  all  our  perseverance,  but  that  we  can 
look  back  upon  trials  already  successfully  passed, 
upon  a  duty  happily  accomplished,  upon  a  permanent 
peace  for  ourselves  and  for  the  rest  of  the  world. 

MR.  BALFOUR  IN  TORONTO 

Mr.  Balfour  unannounced  left  Washington  that  night 
and  crossed  the  Canadian  border  the  next  morning.  To- 
ronto hailed  with  glad  acclaim  his  coming.  No  speech  he 
made  there  was  more  reassuring  to  the  people  of  Canada 
than  the  happy,  buoyant  confidence  expressed  in  his  face 
as  he  rode  through  the  streets  of  Toronto.  The  route  from 
the  Union  Station  to  Queen's  Park  became  an  avenue  of 
cheering,  in  which  Mr.  Balfour  seemed  to  join  rather  than 
to  take  the  ovation  for  himself.  His  fresh,  handsome  face 
beamed  with  contagious  pleasure,  as  he  waved  his  hat  and 
bowed  from  side  to  side.  It  was  not  the  stiff  bow  of  the 
intellectual  aristocrat,  but  the  hearty  abandon  of  a  boy. 
The  line  of  route  was  thronged  with  people,  King  Street 
and  Yonge  Street  being  packed  on  either  side.  University 
Avenue  and  the  approach  to  Queen's  Park  presented  a 
pleasing  spectacle,  crowned  as  the  scene  was  by  a  clear 
blue  sky.  Spring  herself  provided  the  decorations,  with 
fresh  garlands  of  leaves  and  a  green  carpet  of  flower- 
bedded  lawns. 

Long  before  the  party  arrived,  public  and  high  school 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    307 

cadets  to  the  number  of  4,500  had  been  drilling  and  form- 
ing. Mothers,  fathers,  and  whole  families  had  been  seek- 
ing points  of  vantage  from  which  to  view  the  procession. 
Little  tots  in  negligee  trotted  aimlessly  after  red-coated 
cadets  and  bugle  bands,  not  knowing  what  the  fuss  was  all 
about,  but  probably  enjoying  the  occasion  as  much  as  any 
one.  Cadets  lined  both  sides  of  University  Avenue.  High 
school  boys  in  khaki  took  up  positions  at  the  College  Street 
end,  the  line  of  khaki  tapering  off  to  a  point  at  Queen 
Street.  Cadets  broke  into  cheering  and,  as  the  procession 
moved  along,  crowds  flocked  into  Queen's  Park,  which  must 
have  contained  nearly  30,000  people.  The  boom  of  guns 
then  announced  that  the  British  statesman  and  his  asso- 
ciates had  entered  the  Parliament  Buildings.  The  report  of 
the  last  salute  had  scarcely  died  away  when  Mr.  Balfour 
emerged  from  the  front  entrance  and  was  escorted  to  the 
platform.  He  received  a  tremendous  ovation,  the  assem- 
bled throng  including  hundreds  of  representative  people 
from  different  parts  of  the  Province  who  had  stood  for 
more  than  a  hour  waiting  for  this  great  moment/  Mr.  Bal- 
four spoke  as  follows: 

Prime  Minister,  Mr.  Mayor,  ladies  and  gentlemen: 
The  two  addresses  to  which  you  have  just  listened  do 
not  and  cannot  leave  me  and  my  friends  unmoved. 
And  in  those  addresses  there  was,  I  think,  no  sentence 
that  moved  me  more  deeply  than  the  one  read  out 
by  the  Prime  Minister,  in  which  he  bid  me  not  for- 
get that  when  I  came  to  Toronto,  in  the  Province  of 
Ontario,  I  must  feel  myself  not  only  among  friends, 
but  among  countrymen,  and  that  I  must  regard  this 
great  city  and  this  new  and  growing  country,  with 

*The  Toronto  Globe. 


308  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

all  its  undeveloped  possibilities  before  it,  as  if  it  were 
an  English  county  or  a  Scotch,  county  where  I  was 
bom,  educated  and  brought  up. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  did  not  need  that  invita- 
tion to  entertain  this  sentiment.  I  have  left  on  the 
other  side  of  the  border  a  nation  of  friends.  I  come 
into  Canada  to  a  great  free  country,  composed  not 
only  of  friends,  but  of  countrymen.  We  think  the 
same  thoughts,  we  live  in  the  same  civilization,  we 
belong  to  the  same  Empire,  and  if  anything  could 
have  cemented  more  closely  the  bonds  of  Empire,  if 
anything  could  have  made  us  feel  that  we  were  indeed 
of  one  flesh  and  one  blood,  with  one  common  history 
behind  us,  if  anything  could  have  cemented  these 
feelings,  it  is  the  consciousness  that  now  for  two  years 
and  a  half  we  have  been  engaged  in  this  great  strug- 
gle, in  which,  I  thank  God,  all  North  America  is  now 
at  one.  We  have  been  engaged  in  this  great  struggle 
through  these  two  years  and  a  half,  fighting  together, 
when  necessary  making  all  our  sacrifices  in  common, 
working  together  towards  a  common  and  victorious 
end,  which  I  doubt  not  will  crown  our  efforts. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  your  Mayor  has  referred 
to  the  efforts  made  by  this  city  in  the  common  cause. 
May  I  as  a  countryman  of  yours,  though  not  a  citizen 
of  Toronto,  may  I  say  how  profoundly  the  whole  Em- 
pire feels  the  magnitude  of  the  effort  you  have  made, 
and  how  we  value  it  for  itself  and  for  an  example  to 
all  posterity,  an  evidence  to  the  whole  world  of  what 
the  British  Empire  really  means,  not  only  for  the 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    309 

whole  of  that  civilized  body  of  nations  of  which  we 
form  no  inconsiderable  part. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  these  are  proud  thoughts; 
they  will  some  day  be  proud  memories.  We  are  asso- 
ciated together  in  a  struggle  never  equaled  yet  in 
the  history  of  the  world,  and  I  rejoice  to  think  that 
in  that  struggle  on  which  posterity  will  look  back  as 
the  greatest  effort  made  for  freedom  and  civilization, 
the  British  Empire  in  every  one  of  its  constituent 
parts,  and  surely  not  least  in  this  great  Dominion,  in 
this  proud  Province,  and  in  this  city  not  least,  has 
shown  what  the  unity  of  the  Empire  really  means, 
and  how  vain  were  the  anticipations  of  those  who 
thought  that  we  were  constituted  but  a  fair-weather 
Empire,  to  be  dissolved  into  thin  atoms  at  the  first 
storm  that  should  burst  upon  it. 

We  have,  on  the  contrary,  shown  that  the  more 
storms  beat  on  the  fabric  of  our  Empire  the  more 
firmly  it  held  together,  and  were  so  far  from  shaking 
it  in  any  single  part.  Events  that  have  recently  oc- 
curred, that  are  occurring  and  will  occur  in  the  fu- 
ture, will  join  every  part  of  it  together  forever  in 
memories  which  will  remain  with  us,  the  actors  in  this 
great  drama,  until  we  die,  and  which  we  shall  be  able 
to  hand  to  our  children  and  our  grandchildren  as 
long  as  civilization  exists. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  Mr.  Prime  Minister,  Mr. 
Mayor,  I  beg  for  my  friends  as  well  as  for  myself 
to  thank  this  great  Province,  this  great  city,  most 
deeply  for  the  manner  in  which  you  have  received  us 
on  this  great  and  historic  occasion. 


310  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

MR.    BALFOUR   IN    OTTAWA 

From  Toronto  Mr.  Balfour  went  to  Ottawa,  where  Par- 
liament in  joint  session  on  May  28  gave  him  a  notable 
reception.     He  spoke  first  in  French  briefly  as  follows: 

Messieurs  les  Presidents,  honorables  messieurs  du 
Senat,  messieurs  de  la  Chambre  des  communes:  II 
m'est  inutile  de  dire  combien  je  suis  louche  de 
I'accueil  qui  vient  de  m'exprimer  le  President  du 
Senat  et  le  President  de  la  Chambre.  Je  les  remercie 
cordialement  de  leurs  genereuses  paroles  de  bienvenue. 

Vous  me  pardonnerez  sans  doute  si  je  ne  m'exprime 
pas  en  langue  francaise  avec  la  facilite  que  je  de- 
sirerais.  Mais  je  m'en  console  en  me  souvenant  que 
vous  venez  d 'entendre  un  maitre  de  I'eloquence,  le 
grand  Viviani,  digne  representant  de  notre  grande 
et  chere  alliee,  de  ce  pays  ou  se  battent  en  ce  moment 
les  soldats  des  deux  races,  francaise  et  anglaise,  men- 
acees  d  'un  peril  commun. 

Notre  Canada  a  etecree  par  le  genie  des  deux 
races — anglaise  et  frangaise.  Chacune  de  ces  races 
a  conserve  sa  langue,  sa  religion,  son  caractere  na- 
tional. Cote  a  cote,  elles  ont  vecu,  elles  ont  grandi, 
et  a  ce  moment  des  milliers  des  plus  braves  parmi  les 
fils  du  Canada  sont  alles  outre-mer  et  ont  prete  leur 
concours  pour  chasser  les  Allemands  de  la  terre  de 
France  et  pour  delivrer  le  monde  de  la  menace  du 
militarisme  prussien. 

Mr.  Balfour's  formal  English  speech  was  then  made,  as 
follows : 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    311 

Mr.  Speaker  of  the  Commons,  Mr.  Speaker  of  the 
Senate,  Honorable  Gentlemen :  I  turn  to  a  language 
which  I  do  not  admire  more  than  the  one  I  have  been 
somewhat  imperfectly  speaking,  but  one  with  which 
I  am  very  much  more  familiar.  Perhaps  you  will 
allow  me  to  make  the  rest  of  my  speech  in  accents  that 
come  more  familiarly  to  my  tongue. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  it  is  with  the  profoundest 
emotion  that  I  enjoy  this  opportunity  of  meeting  the 
two  Houses  of  the  Canadian  Parliament  in  joint  ses- 
sion. Many  of  your  most  distinguished  members  are, 
I  think  I  may  venture  to  say,  personal  friends  of  my 
own;  I  have  seen  them  and  have  enjoyed  their  com- 
pany in  the  Homeland,  and  now  that  I  come  here  and 
have  again  the  opportunity  of  renewing  my  friend- 
ship with  them  it  is  not  merely  a  personal  pleasure 
to  interchange  ideas  and  to  come  in  contact  with  them 
as  those  responsible  for  the  government  of  this  great 
community,  but  there  is  a  special  emotion  in  feeling 
that  I  come  at  one  of  the  greatest  crises  not  merely 
in  the  Imperial  history  of  Great  Britain,  but  in  the 
world  history  of  civilization. 

Gentlemen,  I  do  not  believe  that  anything  more 
unexpected  to  the  outside  world  has  ever  occurred 
than  the  enthusiastic  self-sacrifice  with  which  the 
great  self-governing  Dominions  of  the  British  Empire 
have  thrown  themselves  into  this  great  contest.  The 
calculation,  of  the  ordinary  foreign  politician,  and 
especially  of  the  German  politician,  was  that  the  Brit- 
ish Empire  was  but  a  fair-weather  edifice,  very  im- 
posing in  its  sheer  magnitude  and  in  the  vast  surface 


312  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

of  the  globe  which  it  occupied,  but  quite  unfitted  to 
deal  with  the  storm  and  stress  of  war;  destined  to 
crumble  at  the  first  attack,  and,  like  a  house  built  on 
the  sand,  to  fall  to  a  great  ruin.  I  do  not  think  my- 
self that  that  was  nearly  so  foolish,  or  so  obviously 
idiotic,  a  miscalculation  as  some  of  those  others  in 
which  our  German  enemies  have  indulged.  On  the 
face  of  it,  to  those  who  are  ignorant  of  the  inner 
spirit  which  animates  the  British  Empire  from  one 
end  to  the  other,  it  would  be  impossible  to  conceive  of 
a  great  State  which  apparently  was  less  well  fitted  to 
deal  with  the  terrible  stress  of  war.  Take  up  the  map 
and  you  see  large  tracts  of  the  world  colored  red. 
They  are  separated  by  vast  oceans,  they  encircle  the 
globe;  and  while  the  fact  that  the  sun  never  sets 
upon  the  British  Empire  may  be  proof  of  its  magni- 
tude, it  is  no  evidence  of  its  strength.  Moreover,  re- 
member what  the  foreign  speculators  about  the  Brit- 
ish Empire  must  have  thought  before  the  war  be- 
gan. They  said  to  themselves:  This  loosely  con- 
structed State  resembles  nothing  that  has  ever  ex- 
isted in  history  before ;  it  is  held  together  by  no  co- 
ercive power ;  the  Government  of  the  Mother  County 
can  not  raise  a  corporal 's  guard  in  Canada,  Australia, 
New  Zealand,  or  wherever  you  will ;  she  can  not  raise 
a  shilling  of  taxation;  she  has  no  power  to  do  so. 

But,  they  forgot  that  power  which  a  certain  class 
of  politician  never  remembers — the  moral  power  of 
affection,  sentiment,  common  aims  and  common  ideals. 
Even  those  of  us  who  most  firmly  believed  that  the 
British  Empire,  a  new  experiment  in  the  long  his- 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    313 

tory  of  the  world,  was  going  to  succeed;  even  those 
who,  like  myself,  took  a  sanguine  view  of  the  future 
of  our  great  Empire,  must  have  felt — so  loosely  was  it 
knit,  so  vast  were  the  areas  that  it  covered,  so  im- 
probable that  this  immense  body  should  be  animated 
by  one  soul,  or  that  the  indirect  thrill  of  a  common 
necessity  should  vibrate,  as  it  were,  from  pole  to  pole 
and  everywhere  meet  with  a  response — ^that  such  a 
dream  was  difficult,  and  such  an  ideal  hard  to  carry 
into  effect.  When,  unexpectedly,  without  giving  an 
opportunity  for  preparation  or  discussion  or  propa- 
ganda, war  burst  upon  the  world,  even  those  ani- 
mated by  such  a  feeling  might  well  have  doubted 
whether  this  great  Empire — each  unit  of  which  had 
it  in  its  power  to  hold  aloof  had  it  so  desired — ^would 
act  as  one  organization  animated  by  one  soul,  moved 
by  one  purpose  and  driving  towards  one  end.  It  seems 
to  me  almost  a  political  miracle,  but  the  miracle  has 
occurred ;  and  no  greater  event  in  my  opinion  has  ever 
happened  in  the  history  of  civilization  than  the  way 
in  which  all  the  coordinated  democracies,  each  one 
conscious  of  its  separate  life,  each  one  not  less  con- 
scious of  its  common  life,  have  worked  together  with  a 
uniform  spirit  of  self-sacrifice  in  the  cause  in  which 
they  believed  that  not  merely  their  own  individual  se- 
curity, but  the  safety  of  the  Empire  and  the  progress 
of  civilization  and  liberty  itself  were  at  stake. 

Now,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  it  seems  to  me  to  be 
interesting  to  compare  the  picture  which  I  have  just 
endeavored  imperfectly  to  draw  of  the  British  de- 
mocracies working  freely  together,  each  under  its 


314  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

own  institutions,  each  according  to  its  own  lights,  to- 
wards a  common  and  unselfish  end,  with  what  is  hap- 
pening, and  has  happened,  in  the  Central  Powers  of 
Europe.  There  you  find  also  many  communities,  in- 
dependent, or  nominally  independent,  of  any  alliance, 
working  together  towards  objects  which  they,  at  all 
events,  conceive  to  be  in  their  own  interests.  But  how 
different  is  that  bond  which  unites  them,  how  different 
are  the  ideals  which  they  pursue!  At  this  moment, 
if  all  the  stories  which  reach  us  from  every  source 
have  the  least  grain  of  truth  in  them,  you  have  Ger- 
many fighting  for  her  own  self-centered  ends,  en- 
circled by  a  set  of  states  which  she  has  brought  under 
her  control,  who  love  her  not,  whose  interests  are 
really  not  identical  with  hers  but  which  she  has  got 
into  her  grasp,  and  which  doubtless,  if  they  could, 
would  carry  out  their  policies  in  their  own  fash- 
ion. 

The  greatest  of  all  these  powers  is  Austria,  and  yet 
we  all  know,  or  all  of  us  who  have  access  to  authentic 
information  know,  that  Austria  is  not  working  with 
Germany  as  we  are  working  with  France  or  as  the 
different  units  and  elements  of  the  British  Empire 
are  working  with  each  other.  Germany  has  so  con- 
trived her  diplomacy  and  has  so  arranged  her  material 
forces  that  Austria  perhaps  has  not  a  will  of  her  own ; 
but  if  she  has  a  will  of  her  own  she  is  quite  incapable 
of  carrying  it  out.  What  is  true  of  Austria  is  true, 
with  qualifications  and  differences,  of  the  other  allies 
who  are  fighting  on  the  side  of  Germany.  It  is  true 
of  Bulgaria  and  it  is  true  of  Turkey.    All  of  these  are 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    315 

animated  not  by  a  desire  for  legitimate  self-defense, 
not  by  a  desire  for  freedom,  not  by  a  determination 
to  reach  any  common  end  or  to  carry  on  any  great 
civilizing  work,  but  they,  one  and  all,  are  merely 
pawns  in  the  German  game,  moved  as  the  German 
military  party  desires,  not  allowed  to  use  their  own 
resources  for  their  own  ends,  not  permitted  to  have 
ideals  of  their  own  or  to  pursue  them  for  themselves, 
but  all  dragged  into  this  great  vortex  of  German  am- 
bition; all  designed  in  the  first  place  to  supply  the 
forces  by  which  the  war  may  be  won,  and,  if  the 
war  is  won,  as  I  presume  there  may  be  some  in  Ger- 
many who  think  it  will  be  won,  by  the  Central  Powers, 
then  predestined  to  fall  into  their  ordered  places  as 
satellites  of  the  central  Prussian  sun,  as  subordinate 
powers  destined  to  minister  to  her  greatness,  to  her 
enonomic  wealth,  to  her  economic  control  over  all 
other  nations,  but  always  in  strict  subordination  to  the 
dominant  power. 

That  is  the  ideal  of  the  Central  Powers,  and  it  is 
because  the  world  has  begun  to  discover  that  that  is 
their  ideal ;  because  the  world  now  knows  that  the  war 
was  deliberately  arranged  by  the  Prussian  military 
party  that  the  provocation  which  was  its  nominal  ex- 
cuse was  deliberately  contrived ;  that  the  moment  was 
carefully  chosen,  and  that  the  ends  were  the  selfish 
ambition  of  this  military  class — it  is  because  the  world 
has  discovered  this,  that  wherever  you  find  a  free 
democracy,  wherever  you  find  the  spirit  of  liberty 
abroad,  wherever  you  find  that  great  spirit  of  self- 
development  on  national  lines,  there  you  will  find 


316  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

friends  of  the  Allies,  there  ^^ou  will  find  enemies  of 
the  Central  Powers. 

Ever  as  the  months  go  on,  it  becomes  more  evident 
that  this  is  a  world  war  between  the  powers  of  de- 
mocracy on  the  one  side  and  the  powers  of  autocracy 
on  the  other  side.  We  in  this  room,  whatever  shades 
of  differences  may  separate  us,  can,  in  such  a  contest, 
take  only  one  side.  We  can  only  be  on  the  side  of 
democracy. 

We  are  convinced  that  for  every  human  combina- 
tion which  has  reached  the  degree  of  civilization  and 
development  that  has  been  attained  by  all  the  great 
western  communities,  there  is  but  one  form  of  Gov- 
ernment, under  whatever  name  it  may  be  called,  and 
that  is  the  Government  in  which  the  ultimate  con- 
trol lies  with  the  people.  We  have  staked  our  last 
dollar  upon  democracy,  and  if  democracy  fail  us  we 
are  bankrupt  indeed.  But  I  know  that  democracy  will 
not  fail  us. 

I  do  not  pretend,  I  do  not  think  anybody  who  has 
ever  studied  the  history  of  the  past  or  has  looked 
with  impartial  eyes  upon  the  present  which  will  soon 
be  history,  for  a  moment  deceives  himself  with  the  idea 
that  democracy  is  an  easy  form  of  Government.  Gen- 
tlemen, it  is  the  only  form  of  Government,  but  it  is 
not  an  easy  form  of  Government.  It  has  inherent  dif- 
ficulties ;  it  has  always  had  them,  it  always  will  have 
them,  and  I  am  not  sure  that  every  race  is  gifted 
enough  to  surmount  these  difficulties.  That  the  great 
countries  that  represent  western  civilization  not  only 
can  overcome  these  difficulties  but  have  largely  over- 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    317 

come  them  already,  I  think  is  assured.  But  do  not 
let  us  imagine  that  the  task,  however  successfully  it 
may  have  been  accomplished  up  to  the  present  time, 
is  one  which  does  not  require  our  constant  efforts  lest, 
where  failure  is  easy,  failure  should  occur. 

After  all,  when  German  militarism  laid  it  down, 
as  it  has  always  laid  it  down,  that  democracy  is  not 
capable  either  of  a  far-sighted  policy  or  of  vigorous 
coordinated  effort,  it  made  a  great  blunder — ^but  it 
made  a  blunder  for  which  there  is  some  excuse.  It 
recognized  how  hard  has  always  been  found, — not 
now  particularly  but  always, — ^the  task  of  managing  a 
great  community  of  free  men  and  directing  and  con- 
centrating all  their  efforts  and  all  their  sacrifices,  at 
any  given  moment,  upon  one  great  object.  That  can 
be  done,  no  doubt,  simply  and  effectively  by  a  military 
autocracy.  It  can  be  done  more  easily;  it  can  in  ap- 
pearance (though  I  think  only  in  appearance)  be 
done  much  more  effectively.  But  when  democracy  sets 
itself  to  work,  when  it  really  takes  the  business  in 
hand,  I  hold  the  faith  most  firmly  that  it  will  beat 
all  the  autocracies  in  the  world. 

But  it  will  not  beat  them  easily;  it  wiU  not  beat 
them  without  effort;  it  will  not  beat  them  unless  it 
is  prepared  to  forego,  temporarily  it  may  be,  those  di- 
visions which,  in  a  sense,  are  the  very  life  blood  of  a 
free,  vigorous,  and  rapidly  developing  community. 
That  is  the  paradox  and  the  difficulty  which  lies  at 
the  root  of  democracy.  You  cannot  have  a  democracy 
without  a  collision  of  opinions — at  least  I  think  not. 
You  cannot  have  a  democracy  without  parties,  be- 


318  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

cause  parties  are,  after  all,  but  the  organization  of 
differences  of  opinion,  and  the  paradox  and  the  diffi- 
culty of  democracy  is  how  this  normal  and  this  healthy 
habit  is  to  be  got  over  when,  in  moments  of  great  na- 
tional crises,  the  efforts  of  every  section  and  every 
party  must  be  subordinated  to  one  overmastering  pur- 
pose. 

I  am  addressing  a  body  of  responsible  statesmen 
who  know  how  institutions  are  practically  worked, 
who  get  their  knowledge  not  from  books  but  from 
experience;  and  they  are  the  best  audience  in  the 
world  for  dealing  with  matters  which  perhaps  may 
seem  to  you  too  abstract  to  be  proper  subjects  of  dis- 
cussion on  such  an  occasion  as  this.  But  I,  who  have 
seen  the  democracy  of  the  Homeland  at  work  since 
the  beginning  of  the  war,  who  have  then  had  the 
happy  opportunity  of  seeing  on  this  continent  an- 
other great  democracy  girding  itself  for  the  struggle 
to  which  it  is  now  finally  committed,  and  who  have 
the  inestimable  privilege  of  meeting  this  gathering  of 
my  fellow  countrymen  in  the  greatest  of  our  self- 
governing  Imperial  elements — I  who  have  had  these 
advantages  am  deeply  impressed  both  with  the  power 
of  a  democracy  to  overcome  the  difficulties  of  which 
I  speak,  and  of  the  necessity  for  its  overcoming  them. 
I  suppose  you  have  your  difficulties,  as  undoubtedly 
the  United  States  has  had  its  difficulties,  and  as  most 
assuredly  we  in  the  Motherland  have  had  our  diffi- 
culties. If  those  difficulties  seem  at  any  given  moment 
to  be  hard  to  overcome,  do  not  for  a  moment  let  your 
faith  fail  you.     You  are  worthy  representatives  of 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    319 

those  principles  of  constitutional  freedom  which  in 
their  modern  developments  are  the  invention  of  the 
British  race,  and  which,  on  the  whole,  have  been 
practised  with  at  least  as  much  success  by  the  Brit- 
ish race  as  by  any  other  race  in  the  world. 

That  Canada  is  with  the  Allies  through  all  diffi- 
culties to  a  final  and  triumphant  conclusion  of  this 
great  conflict  is  the  message  which  you,  Mr.  Speaker 
of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  you,  Mr.  Speaker  of 
the  Senate,  have  asked  me  to  convey  to  the  Mother- 
land. In  the  truth  of  that  message  I  firmly  believe. 
I  know  that  the  democracies  of  the  old  world  as  well 
as  of  the  new — ^whether  they  belong  to  the  British 
Empire,  or  are  outside  of  it ;  whether  they  speak  the 
English  language,  or  the  language  of  other  free  na- 
tions— will  come  out  of  this  struggle  not  merely  tri- 
umphant in  the  military  sense,  not  merely  conquerors 
where  victory  is  essential  to  civilization,  but  strength- 
ened in  their  own  inner  life;  more  firmly  convinced 
that  the  path  of  freedom  is  the  only  path  to  national 
greatness;  and  with  the  lesson  fully  learned,  that 
patriotism  will  always  overcome  the  dangers  and  diffi- 
culties inherent  to  a  democratic  constitution,  and  that 
the  strength  which  is  derived  from  having  behind  ef- 
fort the  consent  of  a  free  people,  is  greater  than  all 
the  strength  that  can  be  secured  by  the  most  elaborate, 
the  most  tyrannical,  and  the  most  well  thought-out 
system  of  military  despotism. 

I  most  gratefully  thank  you  for  having  listened  to 
me.  I  shall  carry  back  from  this  meeting  the  message 
which  has  been  entrusted  to  me  by  the  Speaker  of 


320  BALFOUR,  [VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

the  House  of  Commons  and  by  the  Speaker  of  the 
Senate.  And  I  shall  do  more;  for  I  hope,  however 
imperfectly,  to  convey  to  my  friends  in  the  Mother- 
land the  tidings  that  the  spirit  which  animates  their 
children  here  is  not  less  ardent,  not  less  resolute,  not 
less  firmly  devoted  to  the  achievement  of  a  final  vic- 
tory than  that  by  which  they  themselves  are  ruled. 

\*  MR.   BALFOUR   IN    MONTREAL 

To  say  that  Montreal  turned  out  en  masse  to  welcome 
Mr.  Balfour  on  May  30  might  be  to  overstate  the  facts,  but 
that  part  of  the  population  which  did  turn  out  made  up  in 
enthusiasm.  The  reception  at  the  station  took  up  only  a 
few  minutes,  after  which  the  party  were  escorted  to  wait- 
ing automobiles  and  conveyed  to  the  Windsor  for  luncheon. 
In  one  of  the  greatest  demonstrations  in  the  history  of  the 
Canadian  Club,  they  were  accorded  a  royal  welcome  at 
this  luncheon.  Every  bit  of  space  in  the  big  room,  the 
adjoining  rooms,  the  aisles  and  the  gallery  was  filled.  It 
was  several  minutes  before  Mr.  Balfour  could  begin  his 
speech.  Every  one  stood  up  and  cheered,  many  moved 
their  serviettes  and  in  the  balcony  ladies  waved  handker- 
chiefs and  joined  in  the  applause.  Mr.  Balfour's  address 
was  as  follows: 

Mr.  Chairman,  My  Lords,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen; 
Let  me  in  response  to  the  reception  that  you  have 
given  me — let  me  tender  my  sincere  thanks  for  the 
honor  which  the  club  has  done  me  in  electing  me 
one  of  its  honorary  members.  That  the  honor  is  a 
great  one  is  sufficiently  obvious  to  anybody  who  will 
glance  around  this  room  and  read  the  names  of  those 
who  have  honored  this  occasion  by  their  presence. 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    321 

It  gives  me  profound  satisfaction  to  be  admitted  as 
a  member  of  one  of  the  institutions  which  is,  I  believe, 
especially  characteristic  of  Canada;  an  institution 
which  is  not  only  characteristic  of  Canada,  but  which 
seemed  to  me,  upon  its  own  merits,  to  be  quite  ad- 
mirable and  eminently  worthy  of  imitation  in  other 
countries.  To  be  admitted,  I  say,  as  a  member  of 
such  an  institution  is  an  additional  cause  for  grati- 
tude, added  to  the  many  causes  of  gratitude  which  I 
have  already  had  occasion  to  receive  since  I  crossed 
over  into  this  great  Dominion. 

Your  chairman,  in  introducing  the  toast,  was  good 
enough  to  refer  to  history  which  might  be  accounted 
ancient  history,  were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  the  ef- 
fects of  the  transaction  to  which  he  referred  are  vital- 
ly important  at  the  present  world  crisis. 

He  indeed  made  one  slight  slip,  and  attributed  to 
me  the  honor  which  properly  belongs  elsewhere,  for 
I  was  indeed  of  the  opposition.  I  was  not  a  member 
of  the  Government  which  made  the  arrangement  with 
Russia,  although  I  was  the  head  of  the  Government 
which  made  the  arrangements  with  France  and  with 
Japan. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  in  my  judgment  the 
work  thus  done,  partly  by  the  party  of  which  I  am 
a  member,  although  parties  no  longer  exist  on  the 
other  side,  and  partly  by  my  friend  Sir  Edward  Grey 
— that  work,  I  say,  made  the  present  resistance  to 
the  world  domination  of  Germany  possible.  Had  those 
arrangements  with  France  in  the  main,  and  with 
Japan  and  Russia — ^had  these  arrangements  not  been 


322  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

made  I  do  not  believe  it  would  have  been  possible  to 
complete  the  organization  of  resistance  in  time  to  meet 
the  danger  which  burst  upon  a  wholly  unprepared 
world.  Do  not  interpret  what  I  say  as  suggesting 
what  is  wholly  false,  namely  that  these  arrangements 
were  made  with  a  hostile  intent  to  Germany.  Ger- 
many circulated  that  misstatement,  as  they  have  cir- 
culated many  other  misstatements,  for  purposes  which 
are  perfectly  obvious,  and  which  ought  to  take  in 
nobody. 

I  speak  with  knowledge  and  with  authority,  when 
I  say  that  so  far  as  the  arrangements  with  Japan,  so 
obviously  entirely  outside  the  German  question — put- 
ting that  on  one  side  as  obvious  and  irrelevant — I 
say  that  the  arrangements  with  France  were  not  di- 
rected against  Germany,  but  it  was  intended  to  bring 
together  two  great  peoples,  which  ought  never  again 
to  be  enemies,  but  between  whom  small,  petty,  but 
none  the  less  dangerous  causes  of  friction,  were  always 
arising — ^were  in  the  absence  of  this  settlement  always 
arising,  and  were  always  looked  upon  with  pleasure, 
and  were  always  aggravated  as  far  as  possible  by  the 
Central  Powers  of  Europe. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  there  never  was  an  arrange- 
ment more  sincerely  intended  to  promote  the  cause  of 
peace.  It  has  promoted  the  cause  of  peace;  it  has 
promoted  the  cause  of  international  friendship,  and 
one  of  its  most  important,  but  quite  indirect,  results 
is  that  when  Germany  showed  that  in  her  opinion 
the  time  had  come  when  she  could  assert  her  pre- 
dominance over  the  civilized  world,  it  was  found  pos- 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    323 

sible,  and  even  easy,  for  every  free  community  in  the 
British  Empire — for  the  whole  of  these  two  great  or- 
ganizations to  unite  together  to  resist  an  attack  equal- 
ly fatal — which  were  it  successful,  would  have  been 
equally  fatal  to  the  liberties  of  both. 

Well,  so  much  for  the  past,  of  which  your  chair- 
man has  reminded  you.  As  regards  the  present :  You 
know  that  my  mission,  in  every  part  of  it,  and  in 
every  respect,  was  connected  with  the  war,  and  noth- 
ing but  the  war.  To  help  as  far  as  may  be,  to  co- 
ordinate the  efforts  of  those  who  are  engaged  in  the 
common  task — that  was  our  business,  and  to  that 
business  we  have  devoted  ourselves.  I  rejoice  to  think 
that  in  the  course  of  the  work  with  which  we  were 
entrusted  by  the  Home  Government,  it  has  been  found 
possible  to  spend  a  period — all  too  brief,  but  none  the 
less  valuable — among  our  own  countrymen  in  Can- 
ada. 

I  say  nothing  of  the  kindness  and  the  warmth  of 
sympathy  with  which  we  were  received  in  the  United 
States,  for  on  that  subject  I  have  already  often 
spoken.  I  only  refer  to  this  great  Dominion,  and  I 
can  truly  say  on  behalf  of  my  friends  and  myself 
that  we  have  been  profoundly  moved  and  touched  by 
the  welcome  which  you  have  given  us.  We  go  away 
(and  I  am  afraid  it  is  the  last  day  on  which  I  shall 
have  an  opportunity  of  addressing  a  Canadian  audi- 
ence), we  go  away  enriched  with  many  happy  mem- 
ories; we  go  away  inspired  by  the  consciousness  that 
here  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  your  hearts  beat  in 
unison  with  ours,  and  separated  though  we  be  fromi 


324  BALFOUR,  YIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

you  by  thousands  of  miles  of  stormy  ocean,  there  is 
no  separation  of  sentiment  or  will  or  ideals  or  efforts. 
We  go  away  again  enriched  by  the  increased  con- 
sciousness of  the  fact  that  the  value  of  a  great  Em- 
pire like  our  own — the  value  of  its  separated  and  yet 
united  parts — is  not  to  be  measured  in  figures  or  esti- 
mated by  statistics. 

The  value  of  Canada  to  the  Empire  and  of  the 
Empire  to  Canada  is  not  to  be  measured  in  men  or 
money  or  ships,  or  any  other  of  the  material  element 
that  go  to  make  strength  or  power  to  constitute 
strength.  I  do  not  undervalue  those.  I  am  ready  to 
admit  that  the  utilitarian  side  of  empire,  as  of  all 
other  human  affairs,  is  not  the  side  which  you  can 
neglect,  but  while  you  cannot  neglect  it,  it  is  danger- 
ous, it  is  false,  to  overemphasize  it. 

The  union  of  the  various  parts  of  this  Empire  has 
a  profounder  moral  significance  than  any  which  these 
dry  facts  can  possibly  give  us.  There  used  to  be — 
I  am  glad  to  think  there  is  no  longer — ^but  there  used 
to  be  a  school  of  politics  in  Great  Britain — a  school 
which  from  many  points  of  view,  I  think,  has  earned 
the  gratitude  of  free  peoples,  but  its  numbers  never 
could  get  into  this  question  of  colonies  and  Dominions 
and  fabric  of  Empire;  they  never  could  get  beyond 
those  narrow  and  shallow  utilitarian  calculations. 
They  utterly  misunderstood,  in  my  judgment,  not 
merely  the  psychology  of  Englishmen  and  Scotch- 
men living  at  home,  but  the  psychology  of  the  descend- 
ants of  Englishmen  and  Scotchmen  and  Irishmen  liv- 
ing elsewhere. 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    325 

Nothing  is  more  instructive,  nothing  is  more  in- 
spiring, than  that  feeling  that  man  is  not  differently 
placed  as  citizens  of  the  Empire  in  Canada  from  the 
position  of  the  citizens  of  the  Empire,  let  us  say,  in 
Middlesex;  nothing  is  more  inspiring  than  to  feel 
that  the  environments,  the  likenesses  of  character,  the 
training  of  hopes  and  beliefs  is  so  fundamentally  and 
essentially  one  that  you  can  leave  the  crowded  thor- 
oughfares of  London  and  be  transported  into  the  far- 
thest west  and  meet  a  man  and  discuss  public  affairs 
with  him,  and  you  would  feel  you  were  on  the  same 
plane,  that  you  looked  at  things  from  the  same  point 
of  view,  and  that  you  had  the  same  notions  of  liberty, 
of  public  liberty  and  private  right,  as  if  you  had 
talked  with  a  man  on  the  next  street  in  your  own 
home  town  or  village.  That  was  a  great  glory  in  time 
of  peace ;  it  is  a  great  strength  in  time  of  war. 

And  war  is  upon  us  in  a  shape  and  of  a  character 
as  has  never  yet  been  upon  any  people  since  the  his- 
tory of  the  world  began  to  be  recorded.  I  am  not 
going  to  discuss  the  development  or  the  present  posi- 
tion, or  the  future  prospects,  of  the  war.  That  is  a 
theme  too  great,  perhaps  for  any  single  occasion ;  cer- 
tainly quite  inappropriate  to  this  occasion,  but  one 
observation  I  may  permit  myself.  It  is  that  the  diffi- 
culties of  war  were  quite  different  at  the  beginning  of 
the  struggle  from  what  they  are  as  the  struggle  draws 
to  its  conclusion.  When  war  broke  out  it  found  us 
at  home  unprepared ;  it  found,  I  think,  even  our  more 
military  allies  not  over  well  prepared. 

I  imagine  that  it  found  you  in  Canada  even  less 


326  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

organized  for  immediate  warfare  against  a  great  pow- 
er than  we  were  ourselves.  All  our  efforts,  therefore, 
at  the  beginning,  were  devoted  to  improvising  that 
colossal  organization  without  which  the  war  could  not 
have  been  carried  on  with  the  success  with  which  it 
has  met.  I  believe  that  history  will  say  that  in  spite 
of  many  blunders ;  in  spite  of  many  mistakes ;  in  spite 
of  many  shortcomings,  the  organizing  effort  made  by 
Great  Britain  and  by  the  Dominions  and  dependencies 
of  Great  Britain,  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  ef- 
forts that  have  ever  been  made  in  the  history  of  war- 
fare. 

The  situation,  remember,  was  one  scarcely  contem- 
plated by  either  military  or  naval  writers  and  think- 
ers. I  have  been  concerned  for  many  years  in  dis- 
cussing questions  of  national  defense  with  the  ex- 
perts— with  naval  and  military  experts  of  the  Crown. 
And  in  all  these  years  we  constantly  discussed  the 
defensibility  of  Great  Britain,  the  defensibility  of 
India,  the  liability  of  our  lines  of  commerce  with  our 
Dominions,  being  attacked  or  injured,  and  other 
cognate  problems. 

Never  did  we  discuss — never  did  we  seriously  face 
the  necessity  which  has  now  come  upon  us,  and  come 
upon  you,  of  keeping  a  colossal  land  army  on  the 
continent  of  Europe — partly  on  the  continent  of  Eu- 
rope, and  let  me  add,  not  on  the  continent  of  Europe 
alone,  but  in  Egypt,  and  in  Mesopotamia.  We  never 
contemplated  the  possibility  that  that  strain  would  be 
put  upon   our  resources,   or  that  our  organization 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    327 

should  be  so  modeled  as  to  deal  with  that  particular 
necessity. 

The  whole,  therefore,  had  to  be  improvised — the 
munitions,  the  finding  of  men,  the  training  of  men, 
the  designing  of  guns,  or  the  vast  financial  problems 
which  suddenly  burst  upon  the  commercial  world. 
All  these  had  to  be  dealt  with  without  premeditation, 
without  long  forethought  and  under  circumstances  of 
the  greatest  imaginable  stress  and  difficulty. 

Those  were  the  troubles  we  had  to  face  when  the 
war  began.    They  have  been  faced  not  unsuccessfully. 

The  problems  and  difficulties  which  meet  us  as  the 
war  draws  towards  its  termination  are  necessarily  of 
a  different  kind.  They  are  of  a  kind  which  every 
combatant  feels,  which  I  am  confident  our  enemies 
feel  far  more  than  ourselves,  but  which  all  of  us  neces- 
sarily feel  keenly — the  difficulties  that  arise  from  the 
relative  exhaustion  of  men  and  material.  It  is  in- 
evitable. 

But  what  I  want  to  say  to  you  about  it  is  that  it 
is  not  a  subject  for  discouragement,  but  one  which  will 
only  stir  to  more  vigorous  efforts  every  one  of  the 
great  communities  concerned.  When  my  friends  and 
I  return  to  the  Mother  Country,  we  shall,  I  have  no 
doubt,  find  that  rationing,  as  it  is  called,  is  in  full 
swing,  that  it  is  not  possible  for  any  man  whatever 
be  his  means,  to  live  in  the  manner  to  which,  in  hap- 
pier days,  he  was  accustomed.  Sacrifices  are  being 
demanded  of  every  individual  and  of  every  class,  and 
those  sacrifices  are  being  cheerfully  made  and  will  be 
cheerfully  made. 


328  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

We  are  near  the  seat  of  war.  It  is  our  coast,  or 
rather  the  trade  as  it  approaches  our  coasts,  which 
is  chiefly  menaced  by  that  mode  of  naval  warfare 
which  our  enemies  adopted  when  they  found  it  hope- 
less to  dispute  with  us  the  command  of  the  seas,  and, 
therefore,  no  doubt,  the  largest  weight  of  individual 
effort  and  sacrifice  falls  somewhat  more  heavily  upon 
the  inhabitants  of  the  British  Islands  than  it  does 
upon  those  situated  further  from  the  immediate  field 
of  action. 

But  I  know  how  great  are  the  sacrifices  you  have 
undergone,  and  I  know  the  sacrifices  you  are  prepared 
to  undergo,  are  no  more  to  be  measured  by  any  self- 
ish standard  than  those  which  your  countrymen  in 
the  northland  are  undergoing  and  are  still  further 
prepared  to  undergo. 

We  know  that  this  great  contest  is  drawing  towards 
its  final  and  concluding  act.  We  know  that  this  lat- 
ter stage  must  be  marked  more  and  more  by  suffer- 
ing and  sacrifice  and  that  the  weight  of  such  things 
must  press  more — far  more — ^heavily  upon  our  enemies 
than  upon  ourselves.  We  know  that  upon  our  en- 
deavors and  upon  the  strength  of  our  determination 
depend  not  merely  the  more  transient  issues  but  the 
permanent  effects  which  will  result  from  this  great 
struggle,  which  must  be  worked  out  and  which  for 
good  or  evil  are  going  to  mold  the  whole  future  his- 
tory of  civilization. 

I  am  not  going  to  touch  further  upon  any  general 
question.  But  you  will  perhaps  allow  me  to  take  this 
opportunity,  for  my  friends  as  well  as  for  myself, 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    329 

in  saying  a  few  words  of  farewelL  In  the  near  fu- 
ture we  leave  your  kind  and  hospitable  shores.  We 
carry  with  us  memories  we  shall  never  forget.  We 
return  each  in  our  several  positions  to  do  what  we 
can  to  further  the  great  cause  in  which  all  of  us 
alike  are  engaged.  We  leave  behind  us  friends  who 
will  always  be  our  friends  and  we  know  that  they 
all  in  their  several  positions  are  as  resolved  as  we 
are  to  do  their  portion  towards  the  common  work. 

That  is  an  inspiring  thought,  which  diminishes  the 
pains  of  parting,  and  although  we  cannot  with  con- 
fidence say  that  the  end  is  immediately  in  sight,  you 
will  allow  me  to  state  in  conclusion  my  own  firm  and 
unalterable  faith  that  when  we  meet  again — and  may 
it  not  be  long — ^we  shall  have  left  behind  us  the  dark- 
ness, the  clouds  and  the  difficulties  which  now  sur- 
round us;  we  shall  look  back  upon  great  events  and 
great  deeds  in  which  we  have,  every  one  of  us,  borne 
a  humble  part,  it  may  be,  but  one  of  which  we  shall  be 
proud,  and  of  which  our  children  will  be  proud,  and 
we  shall  be  able  to  look  forward  with  a  serene  and 
reasonable  confidence  to  carrying  out  the  great  busi- 
ness whether  it  be  of  Canada,  or  of  Great  Britain, 
or  of  the  Empire  as  a  whole,  in  peace  and  in  freedom 
and  full  of  a  consciousness  that  our  faith  is  in  our 
own  hands  and  that  we  are  not  to  be  dominated  by  any 
power,  however  well  organized,  however  well  trained 
to  the  work  of  destruction. 

We  shall  resume  successfully  and  in  freedom  that 
peaceful  progress  which  will  be  the  highest  factor  in 
the  civilization  of  mankind. 


330  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

On  the  same  day  in  the  presence  of  the  heads  of  McGill 
University,  clad  in  rich  academic  gowns,  in  the  convoca- 
tion hall  of  Royal  Victoria  College,  degrees  were  conferred 
on  Mr.  Balfour,  Sir  Cecil  Spring-Rice,  Rear-Admiral  Sir 
Dudley  de  Chair,  and  General  G.  T.  M.  Bridges,  the  hall 
packed  to  the  very  doors,  and  beyond.  Mr.  Balfour's 
address  was  as  follows: 

Mr.  Principal,  Members  of  Convocation,  Ladies  and 
Gentlemen :  Our  visit  to  Montreal  has  been  unhappily 
brief,  but  the  hours,  few  as  they  are,  have  been 
crowded  with  kindness,  with  warmth  of  feeling  on 
the  part  of  those  whom  we  are  visiting,  and — I  speak 
for  my  friends  as  well  as  for  myself — I  do  not  think 
that  we  are  ever  likely  to  forget  the  way  in  which 
this  great  city,  and  this  great  university,  have  re- 
ceived us. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  if  anything  could  add  to 
the  gratification  with  which  I  have  received  the  high- 
est honor,  which  it  is  in  the  power  of  any  university 
to  bestow,  from  a  university  which  stands  so  high  in 
the  academic  hierarchy  as  this  university — if  any- 
thing could  add  to  the  gratification  of  receiving  this 
personal  honor,  it  is  the  fact  that  the  university  has 
been  good  enough  to  associate  my  colleagues  with  me 
on  this  interesting  occasion.  We  have  worked  together 
during  these  all-important  weeks  for  a  cause  which 
is  dear  to  the  heart  of  every  one  I  am  addressing,  and 
it  is  a  great  addition  to  the  gratification  which  I,  as 
head  of  the  mission,  necessarily  feel  on  such  an  occa- 
sion, that  so  distinguished  a  sailor,  a  soldier  and  a 
diplomatist  have  been  associated  with  me  on  this  occa- 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    331 

sion.  I  do  not  think  it,  perhaps,  my  business  to  talk 
about  my  colleagues,  but  may  I  just  add  a  few  words, 
to  what  has  been  so  admirably  said  earlier  in  the 
course  of  these  proceedings  ? 

May  I  say  this  about  my  friend,  Admiral  de  Chair  ? 
It  is,  perhaps,  not  known  to  many  of  you  here  that 
he  was  the  admiral  during  the  long,  early  months  of 
this  war,  who  was  in  command  of  the  cruiser  squadron 
which  practically  carried  out  singlehanded  the  block- 
ade of  Germany.  Night  and  day,  through  summer  and 
winter,  in  the  stormiest  seas  to  be  found  anywhere  on 
the  face  of  the  globe,  that  squadron  under  his  com- 
mand carried  out,  untiring,  unchecked,  and  with  un- 
qualified success  the  great  task  with  which  they  had 
been  entrusted.  We  are  all  of  us  familiar  with  the 
great  work  of  our  battleships  and  battle  cruisers  as 
shown  at  the  Falkland  Islands,  and  in  the  great  battle 
off  the  coast  of  Denmark,  which  are  immortal  monu- 
ments to  what  the  British  navy  as  a  fighting  force  can 
do.  You  also  know  the  heroic  and  romantic  stories 
about  what  our  submarines  did  in  forcing  the  Straits 
at  Gallipoli,  entering  the  Sea  of  Marmora,  defying  the 
batteries  on  shore,  and  the  nets  of  mines  in  the  depths 
of  the  ocean,  and  contributing  very  largely  to  the 
manner  in  which  an  enterprise,  not,  unhappily,  des- 
tined to  succeed,  yet  remains  a  great  landmark  of 
what  is  possible  for  British  arms  to  do,  and  involving 
memories  which  in  Australia,  in  New  Zealand,  and 
in  other  great  Dominions  far  overseas,  will  forever 
remain  as  a  record  of  what  England's  sons  overseas 
can  accomplish  in  the  way  of  heroic  endeavor. 


332  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

While  we  remember  and  know  these  things,  there 
are  two  great  branches  of  naval  activity  on  which 
perhaps  our  ordinary  thoughts  are  least  occupied. 
One  is  the  unflinching  service  rendered  by  our  mer- 
chant marine  in  the  face  of  dangers  never  contem- 
plated in  former  times  as  incident  to  the  life  of  a 
sailor,  and  not  less  than  this  is  the  work  of  that 
cruiser  squadron  to  which  I  have  referred,  whose  la- 
bors were  more  continuous,  more  important,  and  more 
successful  than  any  other  branch  of  His  Majesty's 
naval  forces. 

Of  my  friend,  the  gallant  general,  who  was  asso- 
ciated with  us  in  this  degree,  I  need  say  nothing  more 
than  this,  that  he  bore  a  heroic  part  in  that  great 
land  struggle  on  the  western  front,  beginning  when 
the  British  forces  were — as  modern  armies  go — but  a 
handful  of  heroes,  and  which  continued  growing 
month  after  month  as  the  war  went  on,  until  now 
they  amount  not  to  tens  of  thousands  or  hundreds  of 
thousands,  but  are  gauged  by  far  larger  figures  than 
those,  and  that  in  every  phase  of  that  struggle  from 
the  earliest  to  the  latest,  in  all  the  changing  experi- 
ences of  this  amazing  war  the  general  has  shown  him- 
self the  gallant  and  the  competent  soldier  which  his 
friends,  who  knew  his  earlier  career,  fully  expected 
of  him. 

The  value  of  the  functions  which  he  and  the  ad- 
miral have  performed  cannot  be  exaggerated  because 
they  bring  to  those  who  have  and  could  have  no  ex- 
perience of  modern  warfare  either  on  sea  or  by  land, 
a  knowledge  of  what  modern  warfare  really  means. 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    333 

And,  believe  me,  the  study  of  strategy,  the  careful 
examination  of  all  the  records  of  the  past,  the  service 
manuals,  the  drill  ground,  the  maneuvers  and  all  that 
was  thought  sufficient  to  teach  a  competent  officer  his 
duty  before  this  war  began,  all  that — I  won't  say  it 
was  useless — but  I  do  say  all  this  is  utterly  insuffi- 
cient to  enable  any  man  to  lead  others  to  victory  or  to 
secure  the  success  of  the  cause  for  which  he  is  pre- 
pared to  lay  down  his  life.  That  special  knowledge 
can  only  be  secured  by  experience.  There  are  no  two 
gentlemen  in  the  service  of  the  Crown  more  competent 
to  give  to  others  in  a  clear,  intelligent  and  persuasive 
form  what  the  results  of  modern  experience  in  war- 
fare really  are. 

Lastly,  may  I  say  about  my  old  friend,  the  British 
ambassador  at  Washington,  that — as  he  told  the  world 
at  luncheon  to-day — he  has  been  careful,  unlike 
some  other  diplomatic  luminaries,  to  do  his  work  and 
not  to  advertise  it.  You  sometimes  hear  it  said  as  a 
sort  of  obvious  commonplace,  that  when  the  war  be- 
gins, the  functions  of  diplomacy  finish.  Never  was 
there  a  shallower  or  a  more  inaccurate  remark.  I 
think  that  if  you  were  to  go  around  to  the  British 
chancellories  in  all  the  neutral,  friendly  and  allied 
countries  you  would  find  in  every  one  that  the  labor 
has  been  multiplied  tenfold  and  twentyfold  until 
it  is  almost  impossible  to  find  accommodation  for  the 
staffs  absolutely  necessary  to  carry  on  the  day-to- 
day work  of  the  respective  officers,  and,  as  their  labors 
have  increased,  so  in  equal  proportion  have  increased 
their  responsibilities.    It  would  be  very  undiplomatic 


334  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

if  I  were  to  discuss  the  secrets  of  diplomacy  on  an 
occasion  like  the  present.  It  is  very  easy  to  talk  of 
admirals  and  generals,  much  easier  than  of  diploma- 
tists. But  you  may  take  it  from  me  who  know  some- 
thing of  these  matters,  that  the  responsibilities  thrown 
upon  His  Majesty's  representative  at  "Washington 
have  been  of  the  gravest  and  most  serious  character, 
demanding  the  utmost  knowledge,  tact,  discretion,  the 
clearest  perception  of  all  the  various  trends  of  pub- 
lic opinion,  and  that  these  qualifications,  difficult  in- 
deed to  secure,  have  been  admirably  exemplified  in 
the  present  holder  of  that  great  office. 

I  have  touched  on  naval  matters,  military  matters, 
diplomatic  matters,  and  you  will  ask  me  what  these 
have  to  do  with  the  labors  of  a  university.  Indeed, 
the  connection  is  not  obvious  or  immediate.  But,  after 
all,  we  know  quite  well  why  we  are  here  to-day.  We 
are  here  to-day  because  of  the  war.  We  know  that 
you  are  gathered  together  because  you  are  profoundly 
interested  in  the  war,  and  you  know  that  the  univer- 
sity has  honored  us  because  they  were  good  enough 
to  think  that  we  had  in  our  respective  measures  and 
up  to  the  limits  of  our  capacity  done  what  we  could 
to  contribute  to  the  success  of  the  war.  Has  then, 
the  war  any  direct  academic  interest  ?  Is  it  intimately 
connected  with  academic  life  ?  In  one  sense  it  clearly 
is  not.  Learning  is  the  work  of  peace,  and  in  an 
ordinary  university  the  amount  of  time  given  to  a 
study  which  can  be  described  as  primarily  adapted 
to  prepare  for  the  navy,  the  army  or  the  diplomatic 
service  is  small  indeed. 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  AKRIVALS  HOME    335 

And  yet,  I  believe  that  it  is  the  academic  life,  or 
rather  in  the  academic  life,  that  we  have  seen  most 
clearly  displayed  the  high  qualities  which  have  made 
capable  the  carrying  on  with  success  and  honor  this 
great  struggle,  unprepared  though  we  technically 
were  to  meet  it.  The  response  which  every  university 
in  Great  Britain  immediately  showed  when  the  war 
broke  out,  the  response  which  you  and  other  great 
Canadian  universities  made  when  first  the  news  came 
that  a  struggle  between  democracy  and  autocracy  had 
at  last  broken  out,  is  a  clear  proof,  if  proof  were 
needed,  that  the  academic  studies  as  they  are  con- 
ducted, at  least  in  our  country,  may  not  train  men 
to  fight  in  the  narrower  and  technical  sense  of  the 
word,  but  do  make  them  capable  in  the  first  place  of 
appreciating  the  magnitude  of  the  national  cause,  and 
in  the  second  place  inspires  them  with  that  devotion 
to  public  duty  which  compels  them  to  throw  them- 
selves instantaneously  with  all  their  strength  and  all 
their  soul  into  the  struggle.  If  the  courts  of  Cam- 
bridge and  Oxford  are  almost  deserted  except  perhaps 
for  the  ladies ;  if  at  Edinburgh  the  native  students  are 
few  and  far  between;  if  you  have  sent  abroad,  and 
other  Canadian  universities  have  sent  abroad  to  fight 
at  the  front  all  your  best  and  all  your  bravest.  It 
is  because  these  universities  have  shown  themselves  to 
be  what  all  universities  should  be — creators  of  noble 
characters,  creators  of  men  who  are  not  merely  pre- 
pared to  go  into  the  world  and  battle  there  for  their 
private  interests  in  some  competition  in  the  competi- 
tive struggle,  worthy  or  unworthy,  but  men  who  will 


336  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

fully  realize  that  while  individual  and  personal  work 
is  the  foundation  of  all  possible  human  society,  there 
are  national  and  social  ideals  far  above  it,  which  also 
have  a  claim  on  their  allegiance,  a  claim  which  at  all 
events  you  have  shown  and  are  ready  to  admit. 

I  have  spoken  long  and  wandered  far  afield.  May 
I  simply  say  in  conclusion  that  there  is  one  function 
which  a  university,  in  a  sense,  performs  to  a  degree 
which  no  other  institution,  or  no  other  secular  insti- 
tution, attempts  to  perform.  It  binds  the  past  to 
the  future,  and  it  binds  it  through  the  education  of 
the  young.  It  is,  therefore,  the  place  which  of  all 
others  ought  to  be  the  seed  ground  of  hope,  and  when 
I  look  at  a  university  or  any  great  body  of  students, 
I  always  say  to  myself,  * '  Can  we  look  on  these  people 
and  not  feel  hopeful  of  the  future  ? ' ' 

It  is  a  fact  that  they  are  students,  largely  absorbing 
the  knowledge  of  what  the  past  has  to  teach,  but  it  is 
also  a  fact  that  they  are  young,  and  are  being  taught 
to  prepare  themselves  for  the  work  of  life.  They 
do  not  look  merely  back  on  the  past.  They  are  not 
merely  students  of  the  great  deeds,  or  the  great  writ- 
ings or  thoughts  of  others ;  they  are  the  men  who  are 
themselves  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  world,  and  in 
them  is  the  promise  of  the  future  as  well  as  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  past.  A  university,  therefore,  is  an  in- 
stitution for  perpetually  keeping  bright  in  us  the 
spirit  of  hope,  and  of  confidence,  and  there  is  no 
place  where  the  spirit  of  hope  and  of  confidence  may 
be  cultivated  with  greater  success  than  in  a  Canadian 
university. 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    337 

You  have  every  element  which  can  go  to  make  a 
great  future.  You  have  the  conscious  convictions  that 
your  community  strikes  its  roots  far  back  into  the 
noblest  history  in  the  world,  the  history  of  England 
and  of  Great  Britain.  And,  in  addition  to  that  con- 
sciousnesss  of  your  past  and  that  of  your  forefathers, 
you  have  the  knowledge  that  there  is  a  bright  day 
before  you,  a  vast  territory  in  which  nature  has  given 
you  the  amplest  opportunities  for  showing  what  you 
can  do  both  as  pioneers  of  industrial  civilization  and 
as  members  of  great  and  growing  communities. 

No  man  can  say  what  the  future  of  Canada  is  not 
going  to  be.  The  prospects  are  unlimited,  but,  be- 
lieve me,  however  far  you  attempt  to  throw  your  gaze 
into  the  future,  however  long  and  glorious  the  his- 
tory of  Canada  may  be,  those  who  look  back  on  the 
way  in  which  this  great  community  has  recognized 
its  duties,  not  merely  to  the  Empire,  of  which  it  forms 
a  part,  but  of  that  civilization  of  which  it  is,  and  is 
going  to  be  one  of  the  greatest  supports,  will  say  that 
the  moment  when  Canada  threw  its  efforts  into  this 
war  stamped  Canada  as  having  all  the  attributes  of 
a  great  nation,  for  no  nation  can  be  great  if  it  does 
not  show  that  the  training  we  give  our  youth  at 
school  and  at  the  university  is  one  which  makes  citi- 
zens and  heroes  as  well  as  students  ?  A  university  is 
a  great  molder  of  character,  and  a  great  creator  of 
character. 

SUCCESS   AND   PURPOSE  OF  THE   MISSIONS 

Thus  ended  the  round  of  visits  by  the  British  and  French 
commissioners  to  American  and  Canadian  cities.     Marshal 


338  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Joffre  had  said  little  at  the  end,  but  that  little  was  unmis- 
takable in  its  meaning.  "A  memory  most  dear,  which  I 
will  cherish  until  my  dying  day,"  was  his  comment  on  the 
great  welcome.  "There  was  never  anything  like  it!"  ex- 
claimed Viviani.  "After  this,  they  can  attack  me  as  much 
as  they  like."  Mr.  Balfour,  in  his  last  public  speech  in 
New  York,  delivered  in  Carnegie  Hall,  had  said:  "This 
certainly  is  a  most  glorious  termination  of  one  of  the  most 
glorious  episodes  in  the  history  of  international  relations. 
This  linking  together  of  the  two  English-speaking  coun- 
tries creates  happiness  not  only  for  the  present  generation 
but  for  generations  yet  unborn."  Mr.  Balfour  here  gave 
expression  to  thoughts  which  for  days  had  been  in  the 
minds  of  Americans.  As  in  George  Canning's  time,  so  now 
in  ours,  the  new  world  had  been  "called  in  to  redress  the 
balance  of  the  old."  The  event  recalled  a  famous  prophecy 
made  by  Count  Aranda,  Spanish  Commissioner  at  the  sign- 
ing of  the  Treaty  of  Peace  in  Paris  in  1782:  "A  federal 
republic  is  this  day  born  a  pigmy,  but  the  day  will  come 
when  to  these  countries  here  it  will  be  formidable  as  a 
giant,   even   a  colossus." 

German  newspapers  strangely  represented  this  welcome 
as  having  been  "cold,"  and  said  the  French  had  blundered 
in  sending  to  America  Marshal  Joffre,  who  "could  not 
speak  a  word  of  English."  Marshal  Joffre  had  probably 
won  every  non-German  heart  in  the  country.  As  he  now 
said  of  his  visit:  "A  memory  most  dear,"  so  had  he  said 
in  the  Senate  Chamber  a  few  days  after  his  arrival,  in 
his  first  public  utterance  in  America,  "Vivent  les  Etats 
Unis."  Never  was  a  famous  world  hero  so  democratic,  so 
utterly  unspoiled,  so  unconscious  of  his  fame.  He  often 
reminded  Americans  of  their  own  Grant,  each  a  great 
soldier  with   a   simple   heart. 

As  to  the  purpose  of  the  Missions  and  what  they  had  ac- 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    339 

complished,  it  could  be  said  that  their  objects  had  been 
threefold — to  reach  a  complete  understanding  as  to  the 
prosecution  of  the  war  by  the  United  States;  to  arrange 
for  military  and  naval  cooperation  between  the  United 
States  and  her  allies;  to  discuss  the  financial  assistance 
America  would  give,  and  to  adjust  questions  of  trade  and 
shipping.  On  all  points  a  satisfactory  agreement  had  been 
reached.  Mr.  Balfour  and  the  French  Commissioners  came 
with  no  suggestion  of  any  political  alliance,  and  President 
"Wilson  had  made  it  known  at  once  that  there  was  no  neces- 
sity for  any  formal  compact.  In  other  words,  the  under- 
standing arrived  at  was  what  has  sometimes  been  called  "a 
gentleman's  agreement."  The  United  States  were  drawn 
into  the  war  much  in  the  same  way  that  Great  Britain  was 
driven  to  take  up  arms.  No  more  than  England  had  we 
gone  to  war  for  gain.  Having  been  made  to  draw  the 
sword,  America  was  not  to  sheathe  it  until  Prussia  had 
ceased  to  be  a  menace  to  the  peace  of  the  world. 

M.  VIVIANI  AND  MARSHAL  JOFFRE  IN  PARIS  AGAIN 

In  Paris,  enormous  crowds,  cheering  tumultuously,  wel- 
comed home,  on  May  23,  the  French  Mission.  Premier 
Ribot  and  other  members  of  the  Cabinet  were  at  the  sta- 
tion. "Why,  this  is  like  New  York,"  said  Marshal  Jofire, 
as  the  automobile  which  conveyed  him  from  the  St.  Lazare 
station  was  halted  on  account  of  the  density  of  the  crowd. 
Police  lines  were  broken  through  by  throngs  of  spectators, 
who  surrounded  the  automobiles,  waving  flags  and  handker- 
chiefs. M.  Viviani,  discussing  afterwards  his  departure 
from  Washington,  said:  "I  told  President  Wilson  how 
deeply  touched  I  was  by  the  manifestations  of  the  sympa- 
thy of  the  American  people  to  which  the  President  replied, 
*We  are  brothers  in  the  same  cause.' " 

The  French  commissioners  had  arrived  safely  at  Brest, 


340  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

the  naval  station  in  northwestern  France,  after  a  pleasant 
voyage  devoid  of  encounters  with  either  mines  or  sub- 
marines. In  leaving  Washington  they  had  chosen  a  night 
special  train  and  had  gone  to  the  station  singly,  so  as  not 
to  attract  attention.  In  New  York,  the  port  of  their  em- 
barkation, they  boarded  at  midnight  an  armed  ship,  already 
in  mid-stream,  which  sailed  immediately.  Marshal  Joffre 
during  the  voyage  answered  two  hundred  and  thirty  of  some 
eight  hundred  unanswered  letters,  which  had  been  brought 
on  board  by  his  aide.  M.  Viviani  and  Marshal  Joffre  had 
received  altogether  a  few  thousand  letters  from  Americans 
and  regretted  much  that  it  had  been  impossible  to  answer 
all,  particularly  those  from  children.  They  undertook, 
however,  to  acknowledge  all  communications  containing 
money,  the  total  amount  received  for  various  charities  be- 
ing  about   2,000,000   francs. 

One  of  M.  Viviani's  first  duties  in  Paris  was  to  present 
to  President  Poincare  a  letter  addressed  to  him  by  Presi- 
dent Wilson.  This  missive,  which  was  an  unusually  long 
document  of  its  kind,  was  understood  to  embody  the  Presi- 
dent's general  acceptance  of  the  French  Government's  sug- 
gestions as  to  the  form  American  intervention  should  as- 
sume and  to  express  profound  sympathy  with  a  friendly, 
though  informal,  partnership  between  the  two  nations. 
What  the  French  call  "material" — artillery,  wagon  trains, 
motor  trucks,  and  drivers,  all  the  technical  corps  that  go  to 
make  up  a  combatant  body — were  to  be  supplied  by  the 
French  for  the  present,  but  eventually,  by  the  next  spring 
at  latest,  Marshal  Joffre  had  hoped  to  see  an  American  ex- 
peditionary force,  several  hundred  thousand  strong,  as  com- 
plete in  every  detail  as  the  British  army  in  1916,  taking 
its  place  in  the  battle  front  in  France. 

"We  could  not  have  been  treated  more  kindly  on  this 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    341 

side  of  Paradise,"  said  M.  Viviani.    In  an  interview  in  the 
Temps,  he  said  further  of  his  visit: 

President  Wilson  is  a  man  of  high  intellect,  whose 
mind  has  been  refined  by  study,  and  whose  penetrat- 
ing vision  perceives  all  shades  of  American  opinion  in 
the  vast  country,  with  its  110,000,000  people,  where 
all  races  are  intermingled.  He  possesses  in  the  high- 
est degree  two  masterly  qualities  which  mark  the 
statesman,  namely,  patience,  wherein  no  event  can 
draw  from  him  a  premature  conclusion,  and,  when  he 
has  reached  his  conclusion,  action,  from  which  nothing 
can  make  him  recede. 

I  have  also  had  the  honor  to  be  received,  on  several 
occasions  by  Secretary  Lansing  and  Secretary  Mc- 
Adoo.  You  will  not  expect  me  to  disclose  by  the 
slightest  allusion  the  importance  and  gravity  of  the 
views  exchanged,  but  that  which  I  can  describe  is  the 
cordiality  and  simplicity,  the  virile  tenderness  with 
which  the  chiefs  of  State  welcomed  us.  I  could  cite 
hundreds  of  evidences  of  attachment  shown  to  us  by 
men  unknown  and  by  men  of  most  illustrious  posi- 
tion. 

No  one,  even  in  imagination,  can  conceive  of  the 
privileged  situation  our  country  occupies  in  the 
pulsating  heart  of  vast  America.  The  fraternal  friend- 
ship born  between  the  two  countries  in  the  days  of 
Lafayette,  Rochambeau,  and  Grasse  has  continued  for 
140  years;  it  is  maintained  and  strengthened  with 
touching  care  by  the  American  Nation.  It  is  between 
the  portraits  of  Washington  and  Lafayette  that  the 
President  of  the  American  Senate  and  the  Speaker  of 


342  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

the  American  House  of  Representatives  are  placed  in 
the  Presidency  of  these  high  assemblages.  I  am  abso- 
lutely certain  that  this  enthusiasm  came  from  the 
heart,  and  that  this  fraternal  sympathy,  which  is 
exalted  to  the  point  of  being  a  heroic  brotherhood, 
will  be  rendered  effective  by  constant  cooperation. 

MR.  BALFOUR  REACHES  LONDON  SAFELY 

After  the  receptions  in  Toronto,  Ottawa  and  Montreal — 
the  latter  on  May  30 — the  pubhc  heard  nothing  of  Mr. 
Balfour  until  June  8  when  a  cable  despatch  from  London 
announced  that  he  had  arrived  home  safely.  Mr.  Bal- 
four's voyage  had  been  so  wrapped  in  secrecy,  as  far  as 
the  public  were  concerned,  that  when  he  arrived  home  few 
in  England  had  been  aware  that  he  was  due.  His  safety 
brought  much  satisfaction  to  officials  in  Washington  who 
had  surrounded  his  visit  and  that  of  M.  Viviani  and  Mar- 
shal Joffre  with  greater  precautions  and  secrecy  than  prob- 
ably ever  were  undertaken  before  in  this  country.  He 
spoke  in  terms  of  warmest  appreciation  of  his  visit.  "I 
have  been  more  kindly  treated  than  any  man  ever  was  be- 
fore," said  he. 

On  June  20  Mr.  Balfour  spoke  of  his  mission  to  mem- 
bers of  the  House  of  Commons  at  a  luncheon  in  the  dining- 
room  on  the  Terrace  at  Westminster.  Besides  Members 
of  Parliament  and  Cabinet  Ministers,  the  American  Am- 
bassador, Walter  H.  Page,  and  a  few  colonial  representa- 
tives were  present.  Former  Premier  Asquith  presided  as  a 
token  of  the  nonpolitical  character  of  the  occasion,  with 
Mr.  Balfour  on  his  right  and  Ambassador  Page  and  Premier 
Lloyd  George  on  his  left.  Other  members  of  the  Cabinet 
sat  at  a  central  table.  After  a  cordial  welcome  home,  voiced 
by  Mr.  Asquith,  Mr.  Balfour  said: 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    343 

I  undertook  the  headship  of  the  American  mission 
with  some  reluctance  and  diffidence.  I  felt  it  so  easy 
to  do  harm,  and  perhaps  not  so  easy  to  do  good.  But, 
looking  back,  I  feel  that  no  harm  has  been  done,  and 
much  good.  My  colleagues  performed  their  various 
tasks  with  great  skill — tasks  which  involved  the  bring- 
ing together  of  the  tremendous  forces  of  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain. 

The  success  of  the  mission  was  not  due  to  the  per- 
sonal qualifications  of  your  representatives,  but  to  far 
deeper  and  more  permanent  causes,  which  must  give 
us  all  great  cause  for  gratification.  I  say  nothing  of 
the  hospitality  of  the  United  States,  which  is  prover- 
bial. I  need  not  dwell  on  the  boundless  kindness 
shown  us,  which  was  so  obviously  from  the  heart.  The 
American  people  would  have  given  us  that  same  hos- 
pitality under  any  circumstances. 

What  moves  me,  and  all  of  Britain,  and  France,  too, 
is  something  deeper,  namely,  the  tremendous  and 
spontaneous  enthusiasm  of  America  for  what  is  now 
our  common  cause  and  the  deep  feelings  of  sympathy 
which  manifestly  animate  the  entire  American  com- 
munity. North,  South,  East,  and  West.  It  might  have 
been  in  the  power  of  emissaries  who  were  either  un- 
fortunate or  indiscreet  to  check  that  manifestation  of 
feeling,  but  it  was  not  in  the  power  of  individuals, 
however  endowed,  to  create  it.  It  did  not  come  from 
the  Mission.  The  Mission  was  the  occasion  of  its  ex- 
hibition and  not  the  cause  of  the  exhibition,  and  that 
is  the  real  value  which  has  issued  from  any  such  pub- 
lic efforts  of  the  Mission.    The  result  of  those  efforts 


344  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

has  been  to  give  to  the  great  American  community  the 
power  of  showing  in  the  strongest,  the  most  effective, 
and  the  most  moving  fashion  what  they  felt  of  the 
great  cause  in  which,  as  they  knew,  our  Allies  in 
France  and  we  ourselves  in  this  country  have  been 
engaged  for  nearly  three  years — the  cause  of  world 
freedom. 

That  is  the  real  significance  of  the  Mission  of  which 
I  was  the  head.  That  is  the  great  result  which  it 
is  having  and  has  had — a  result  the  value  of  which 
cannot  be  measured  by  its  effect  on  this  war,  great 
as  this  effect  is  likely  to  be,  but  which  will,  I  hope, 
outlast  in  the  history  of  the  world  the  life  of  even 
the  youngest  of  those  whom  I  am  now  addressing.  I 
regard  this  Mission  not  as  the  cause,  but  as  the  indi- 
cation, of  one  of  the  most  beneficent  developments 
of  international  relations  which  has  ever  occurred  in 
the  history  of  the  world.  Most  alliances,  as  students 
of  history  know,  are  based  upon  the  temporary  hopes 
and  temporary  agreements  of  aim  between  nations 
which  join  together  each  for  its  own  purpose,  and 
whose  alliance  lasts  only  so  long  as  the  same  end  bene- 
fits both  countries.  Such  alliances  are  inevitably 
doomed.  They  are  based  upon  temporary  necessities, 
and  when  the  occasion  is  over  they  vanish,  leaving 
behind,  it  may  be,  friendly  or  unfriendly  relations, 
but  not  leaving  behind  anything  necessarily  as  a  per- 
manent basis.  I  hope,  and  I  believe,  that  the  co- 
operation in  this  war  between  Great  Britain  and 
America  is  not  based  upon  the  fact  that  each  has 
something  to  get  out  of  the  war  for  itself,  but  is 


LEAVE-TAKINGS  AND  ARRIVALS  HOME    345 

based  upon  a  deep  congruity  and  harmony  of  moral 
feeling  and  moral  ideas.  That  is  its  origin,  and  so 
also  will  be  its  history.  It  will  endure  as  long  as  our 
two  nations  are  content  to  pursue  these  great  ideals, 
and  I  pray  God  it  may  be  forever. 

You  may  perhaps  think  I  am  drifting  somewhat 
away  from  the  subject  of  the  great  struggle  in  which 
we  are  all  engaged.  But,  believe  me,  the  considera- 
tions I  have  been  bringing  to  your  notice  have,  in 
fact,  reference,  and  an  immense  importance,  in  con- 
nection with  the  present  struggle.  As  our  alliance 
and  cooperation  with  the  United  States  are  based 
upon  these  great  moral  considerations,  and  not  upon 
any  desire  of  this  country  or  of  the  United  States  to 
use  the  war  as  an  instrument  of  expansion,  so  we  may 
be  quite  certain  that,  as  the  United  States  have  gone 
in  with  us  for  these  great  ends,  they  will  never  leave 
us  till  these  great  ends  are  accomplished.  There  is 
nothing  of  which  I  am  more  certain  than  this — the 
United  States,  having  put  their  hand  to  the  plow, 
are  not  going  to  turn  back.  They  watched  the  course 
of  events  from  the  inception  of  this  terrible  war  in 
August,  1914,  and,  having  studied  the  history  which 
had  led  up  to  it,  having  carefully  contemplated  the 
whole  play  of  international  forces  in  recent  years, 
they  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  with  the  victory 
of  the  Allies  is  bound  up  the  future  of  civilization,  as 
they  and  as  we  conceive  it. 

It  is  a  conflict  between  two  ideals,  both  of  which 
profess  to  be  civilized — ^the  German  ideal,  and  what, 
at  all  events  in  this  connection,  I  may  call  the  Anglo- 


346  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Saxon  ideal.  They  are  clear,  as  we  are  clear,  that  it 
is  the  second  ideal  which  should  regulate  our  policy, 
and  they  are  not  going  to  abandon  any  effort,  or  to 
refuse  any  sacrifice,  any  more  than  we  are 
going  to  abandon  any  effort,  or  refuse  any 
sacrifice,  which  may  bring  to  a  happy  frui- 
tion a  policy  on  which  we  are  all  convinced  de- 
pends, not  only  immediate  prosperity  for  us  and  our 
children,  but  the  whole  trend  of  international  and 
civilized  evolution,  as  far  as  human  eyes  and  human 
powers  of  foresight  can  venture  to  penetrate  the  fu- 
ture. These  are  not  the  fruits  of  the  Mission,  but  I 
think  the  Mission  gave  an  occasion  for  the  emphatic 
expression  of  them,  and  if  that  be  valuable,  and 
surely  it  is  valuable,  then  we  who  took  part  in  that 
Mission  may  congratulate  ourselves  on  its  result. 


vin 

THE  ARRIVAL  OF  AMERICAN  FORCES  IN 
ENGLAND  AND  FRANCE 

OUR    FIRST   PREPARATION    FOR   WAR 

Coincident  with  the  coming  of  the  Entente  Commission- 
ers, or  following  soon  after  their  arrival  home,  important 
work  had  been  carried  through  in  Washington  in  preparing 
the  country  for  actual  war.  A  brief  enumeration  of  cer- 
tain features  of  this  early  work  may  fitly  close  this  record. 

On  April  13 — nine  days  after  "a  state  of  war"  was  de- 
clared— both  Plouses  of  Congress  passed  unanimously  a 
bill  providing  for  the  raising  of  $7,000,000,000  for  use  in 
assisting  the  Entente  Allies,  and  to  pay  our  own  first  war 
expenses. 

On  April  28  Congress  passed  an  Army  Bill,  which  raised 
the  regular  force  to  its  maximum  war  strength,  and  called 
for.  a  draft  registration  of  all  men  in  the  country  between 
;21  and  31. 

On  May  4  Admiral  Sims,  with  a  flotilla  of  destroyers,  ar- 
rived in  British  waters,  and  began  at  once  to  participate 
in  the  war  on  German  submarines. 

On  May  18  the  first  contingent  of  a  United  States  Army 
medical  unit  reached  England. 

On  June  5  a  registration  for  a  selective  draft  was  taken 
throughout  the  country,  and  about  10,000,000  men  respond- 
ed. From  these  were  to  be  drawn  500,000  men  for  actual 
service,  with  another  draft  of  500,000  to  follow  later  if 
found  necessary. 

347 


348  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

On  June  8  General  Pershing  and  his  staff  arrived  in 
England,  and  on  June  13  reached  Paris. 

On  June  15  were  completed  the  subscriptions  for  the 
first  instalment  of  $2,000,000,000  of  the  $5,000,000,000 
Liberty  Loan,  the  amount  of  the  instalment  being  over- 
subscribed by  more  than  $1,000,000,000,  and  the  number 
of  individuals  making  subscriptions  4,000,000. 

On  June  26  a  flotilla  of  transports,  having  on  board 
some  thousands  of  regular  American  troops,  arrived  at  a 
French  port  in  two  contingents  and  were  received  in  the 
midst  of  an  enthusiastic  demonstration. 

GEN.  PERSHING  IN  LONDON  AND  PARIS 

General  Pershing,  on  arrival,  was  accorded  receptions  in 
Liverpool,  London,  Boulogne  and  Paris,  which  were  won- 
derful recognitions  of  the  honors  that  had  attended  the 
visits  to  this  country  in  April  and  May  of  Mr.  Balfour, 
M.  Viviani,  and  Marshal  Joffre,  and  of  the  action  already 
taken  by  the  United  States  in  aid  of  the  Entente  Allies. 
When  on  June  8  he  arrived  in  Liverpool,  he  said  to  a 
number  of  British  newspaper  men  and  through  them  to 
the  British  public: 

"We  are  very  proud  and  glad  to  be  the  standard 
bearers  of  our  country  in  this  great  wslt  for  civiliza- 
tion and  to  land  on  British  soil.  The  welcome  which 
we  have  received  is  magnificent  and  deeply  appreci- 
ated. We  hope  in  time  to  be  playing  our  part — and 
we  hope  it  will  be  a  big  part — on  the  western  front. 

His  ship  was  the  White  Star  boat  Baltic.  The  voyage 
was  without  special  incident.  He  went  aboard  the  Baltic 
from  a  tug  which  conveyed  him  to  the  side  of  the  ship  as 
she  stopped  off  Governor's  Island,  after  leaving  her  pier 


AMERICAN  FORCES  IN  ENGLAND— FRANCE    349 

on  the  North  River.  Very  few  persons  in  the  whole  coun- 
try knew  anything  about  his  departure.  Several  days  later 
some  American  destroyers  came  out  from  England,  picked 
up  the  Baltic  and  escorted  her  through  the  danger  zone.  No 
enemy  craft  of  undersea  variety  was  seen  during  the  voy- 
age or  even  made  its  presence  felt. 

The  British  did  their  utmost  to  pay  honor  to  the  visitors. 
General  Sir  Pitcaim  Campbell  and  other  officers  received 
them  in  Liverpool  with  a  guard  of  Welsh  Fusiliers,  having 
their  regimental  mascot  (a  white  goat),  and  with  a  band 
parading  on  the  pier.  The  band  played  "The  Star-Spangled 
Banner,"  while  the  guard  stood  at  present  arms,  with  all 
the  British  officers  at  salute.  They  were  taken  to  London 
by  special  train,  to  which  a  state  carriage  was  attached 
for  General  Pershing,  and  were  received  in  London  by 
Lord  Derby,  Secretary  of  State  for  War,  General  Lord 
French,  commanding  the  home  forces,  and  several  other 
high  officials  from  the  War  Office,  and  by  Ambassador 
Page  and  Admiral  Sims.  General  Pershing  shook  hands 
with  the  grimy  driver  and  stoker  on  arrival  at  Euston  Sta- 
tion. Among  many  honors  accorded  him  in  London  was 
a  luncheon  with  the  King  at  Buckingham  Palace. 

After  five  days  he  departed  for  France,  and  landed  at 
Boulogne,  welcomed  with  cheers  from  French  territorials 
and  British  sailors  and  soldiers.  He  was  met  at  the  quay 
by  General  Pelletier,  representing  the  French  Government; 
Commandant  Hue,  representing  the  Minister  of  War;  Gen- 
eral Dumas,  commanding  the  northern  region;  Colonel 
Daru,  Governor  of  Boulogne;  Rene  Besnard,  Under  Secre- 
tary of  War;  Major  Thousellier,  representing  Marshal 
Joffre;  Vice  Admiral  Bonarch,  representing  the  navy,  and 
by  a  British  Admiral.  British  soldiers  and  marines,  lined  up 
along  the  quays,  rendered  military  honors  as  the  vessel, 
flying  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  preceded  by  destroyers  and 


350  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

accompanied  by  hydroplanes  and  dirigible  balloons,  steamed 
into  the  harbor.  Military  bands  played  "The  Star-Spangled 
Banner"  and  the  "Marseillaise"  as  General  Pelletier  and 
his  party  boarded  the  boat  to  welcome  General  Pershing. 

The  scene  was  one  of  striking  animation.  The  day  was 
bright  and  sunny,  the  quays  crowded  with  vast  throngs 
made  up  of  townspeople  and  soldiers  from  all  the  Entente 
allied  armies,  French  and  British  troops  predominating. 
The  shipping  in  the  harbor  was  gay  with  flags  and  bunt- 
ing, many  merchant  craft  hoisting  American  flags.  Along 
the  crowded  quays  the  American  colors  were  seen  every- 
where. A  great  wave  of  enthusiasm  broke  forth  as  the 
tall,  muscular  figure  of  General  Pershing  stepped  upon 
the  quay.  As  the  band  played  the  "Marseillaise,"  he  and 
the  members  of  his  staff  stood  uncovered.  M.  Besnard,  in 
greeting  him  in  behalf  of  the  French  Government,  said 
Americans  had  come  to  France  to  fight  with  the  Allies 
for  the  same  cause — that  of  right  and  civilization.  General 
Pelletier  extended  a  greeting  in  behalf  of  the  French  Army. 
General  Dumas  said: 

Your  coming  opens  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  the 
world.  The  United  States  of  America  is  now  taking 
its  part  with  the  United  States  of  Europe.  Together 
they  are  about  to  found  the  United  States  of  the 
World,  which  will  definitely  and  finally  end  the  war 
and  give  a  peace  which  will  be  enduring  and  fruitful 
for  humanity. 

Visible  evidence  of  the  war  greeted  General  Pershing 
and  his  staff  as  soon  as  they  touched  French  soil.  A  war 
transport,  filled  with  African  laborers,  docked  a  few  min- 
utes after  his  ship  reached  her  pier.  As  his  special  train 
passed  out  of  the  station  a  hospital  train  was  being  un- 


'  AMERICAN  FORCES  IN  ENGLAND— FRANCE    351 

loaded  on  the  opposite  platform.     Soon  after  he  stepped 
ashore  General  Pershing  said  to  newspaper  correspondents : 

Undoubtedly  this  is  a  most  impressive  day  for  all 
of  us — the  arrival  of  the  vanguard  of  the  American 
forces  in  France.  It  has  impressed  us  all  very  deeply. 
We  more  fully  appreciate  the  significance  of  our  entry 
into  the  war,  after  having  stepped  on  the  shores  of 
France,  than  ever  before,  and  now  it  will  be  a  very 
serious  thing  for  us.  I  feel  warranted  in  saying  that 
America  is  in  the  war  to  do  her  share,  whatever  that 
share  may  turn  out  to  be,  whether  great  or  small.  I 
feel  every  assurance  in  saying  that  that  can  be  fully 
counted  upon. 

In  Paris  he  received  a  tumultuous  welcome.  At  the  sta- 
tion he  was  met  by  Marshal  Joffre,  M.  Viviani,  Ambassa- 
dor Sharp,  Paul  Painleve,  Minister  of  War,  and  General 
Foch,  who  gave  the  finishing  thrust  at  the  Mame.  As  the 
General's  figure  came  to  the  small  door  of  the  car  in  the 
Gare  du  Nord,  he  was  seen  to  stand  there  erect,  motionless, 
and  expressionless,  his  eyes  fixed  above  the  heads  of  the 
reception  party,  which  occupied  a  cleared  space  on  the 
platform.  When  the  band  struck  up  "The  Star-Spangled 
Banner,"  the  General's  right  hand  was  instantly  at  salute 
and  remained  so  until  the  "Marseillaise"  had  been  rendered. 
His  was  a  statuesque  figure — the  incarnation  of  West  Point 
training  and  tradition,  as  fine  a  specimen  of  American 
physical  manhood  as  could  be  wished  for.  When  the  music 
stopped,  he  stepped  abruptly  down  the  steps  of  the  car  to 
the  platform,  where  Ambassador  Sharp  introduced  himself 
and  M,  Viviani  gave  an  effusive,  whole-hearted  welcome. 
As  General  Pershing  turned  a  little  to  the  right,  he  saw 
standing  there   "Papa"   Joffre.     The   two   hands   of  each 


352  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

instantly  went  out  to  the  other's  two,  and  there  they  stood 
face  to  face  without  a  word,  a  splendid  smile  wreathing 
the  face  of  the  great  Marshal,  his  eyes  fixed  in  their  gaze 
on  the  American  General.  After  that  came  handshakings 
with  M.  Painleve,  representatives  from  the  Elysee,  and 
with  General  Foch. 

As  the  party  moved  toward  the  gate,  there  was  a  shout 
which  took  an  American  observer  back  to  the  shouting  in 
New  York  for  Marshal  Joffre.  This  yell  was  repeated  over 
and  over  again,  and  became  even  more  tremendous  when 
the  party  reached  the  street.  Here  the  people  were  either 
very  old  or  very  young,  the  women  greatly  outnumbering 
the  boys  and  old  men.  Literally  every  face  wore  a  smile — 
not  the  happy,  care-free  smile  of  old  fete  days,  but  a 
smile  that  came  out  of  a  suffering  heart.^  The  party  drove 
in  open  carriages  through  one  of  the  grand  boulevards, 
General  Pershing  riding  with  Minister  Painleve  and  Mar- 
shal Joffre  with  Ambassador  Sharp,  to  a  hotel  on  the  Place 
de  la  Concorde.  General  Pershing  later  in  the  day  gave 
out  a  statement  for  publication,  as  follows: 

I  came  to  Europe  to  organize  the  participation  of 
our  army  in  this  immense  conflict  of  free  nations 
against  the  enemies  of  liberty,  and  not  to  deliver  fine 
speeches  at  banquets  or  have  them  published  in  the 
newspapers.  Besides,  that  is  not  my  business,  and, 
you  know  we  Americans,  soldiers  and  civilians,  like 
not  only  to  appear,  but  to  be,  business-like.  However, 
since  you  offer  me  an  opportunity  to  speak  to  France, 
I  am  glad  to  make  you  a  short  and  simple  confes- 
sion. 

As  a  man  and  as  a  soldier  I  am  profoundly  happy, 

*  The  New  York  Times. 


AMERICAN  FORCES  IN  ENGLAND—FRANCE    353 

indeed  proud,  of  the  high  mission  with  which  I  am 
charged.  But  all  this  is  purely  personal,  and  conse- 
quently might  appear  out  of  proportion  to  the  sol- 
emnity of  the  hour  and  the  gravity  of  events  now  oc- 
curring. If  I  have  thought  it  proper  to  indulge  in 
this  confidence,  it  is  because  I  wish  to  express  my 
admiration  for  the  heroism  of  the  French  soldier, 
and  at  the  same  time  express  my  pride  in  being  at 
the  side  of  the  French  and  allied  armies. 

It  is  much  more  important,  I  think,  to  announce 
that  we  are  the  precursors  of  an  army  that  is  firmly 
resolved  to  do  its  part  on  the  Continent  for  the  cause 
the  American  nation  has  adopted  as  its  own.  We 
come  conscious  of  the  historic  duty  to  be  accomplished 
when  our  flag  shows  itself  upon  the  battlefields  of  the 
Old  World.  It  is  not  my  role  to  promise  or  prophesy. 
Let  it  sufiice  to  tell  you  we  know  what  we  are  doing 
and  what  we  want. 

No  conquering  hero  returning  home  could  have  had  a 
more  tremendous  reception.  Paris,  and  particularly  the 
French  authorities,  had  planned  and  hoped  for  a  great 
demonstration,  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  even  the  most 
optimistic  pictured  the  almost  frantic  crowds  that  all  "but 
blocked  the  progress  of  the  automobiles.  Men  and  women 
cheered  themselves  hoarse  aiad  flung  masses  of  flowers  into 
the  cars.  Parisians  declared  that  the  only  event  in  their 
lifetime  that  approximated  the  reception  in  enthusiasm 
was  the  one  accorded  to  King  George  of  England,  in  the 
autumn  of  1914.  From  hundreds  of  windows  American 
flags  were  waved  by  men,  women  and  children.  Thousands 
of  French  girls,  with  flags  pinned  to  their  breasts  and 
their  arms  filled  with  flowers  bought  from  scanty  savings, 


354  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

fairly  fought  for  a  chance  to  get  near  enough  to  the  cars 
to  hurl  their  offerings  into  the  laps  or  on  the  shoulders 
of  the  astonished  American  ojBBcers.  Americans  apparently 
had  not  imagined  the  heights  to  which  Parisian  enthusiasm 
could  rise.  Boys,  men  and  girls,  and  even  old  women, 
struggled  to  jump  on  the  running-board  of  General  Persh- 
ing's car  and  shake  hands  with  him.  Not  General  Persh- 
ing alone,  but  every  American  who  was  recognized  was 
burdened  with  flowers.  Crowds  shouted  themselves  hoarse 
with  cheers  for  America.  From  every  housetop  along  the 
route,  from  every  window,  from  every  elevation,  and  from 
thousands  upon  thousands  who  choked  every  thoroughfare 
near  the  line  of  march  there  came  a  welcome  that  no  Amer- 
ican in  Paris  could  ever  forget.^ 

The  next  day  was  a  continuous  succession  of  enthusiastic 
popular  demonstrations,  given  wherever  the  American  com- 
mander made  his  appearance.  Great  throngs  filled  the 
Place  de  la  Concorde  early  in  the  day,  hoping  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  him  at  his  hotel.  Hundreds  of  French  soldiers 
on  leave  from  the  front,  mingled  in  the  throngs  and  gave 
hearty  greetings  to  the  troopers  of  the  Second  Cavalry 
who  accompanied  him.  A  large  American  flag  waved  over 
the  hotel.  Everywhere  French  and  American  colors  were 
intertwined.  After  General  Pershing  had  made  a  formal 
call  on  Ambassador  Sharp  he  was  escorted  with  military 
honors  to  the  Palace  of  the  Elysee  to  be  presented  to 
President  Poincare  who  at  12:30  o'clock  gave  him  a 
state  breakfast.  Other  guests  were  Premier  Eibot,  General 
Painleve,  Marshal  Joffre,  Minister  Viviani,  and  Ambassa- 
dor Sharp. 

*  The  Associated  Press  Eeport. 


AMERICAN  FORCES  IN  ENGLAND— FRANCE    355 

WITH  M.  VIVIANI  AND  MARSHAL  JOFFRE  AT  THE  CHAMBER  OP 
DEPUTIES 

General  Pershing  attended  that  afternoon  a  session  of  the 
Chamber  of  Deputies,  where  the  setting  was  worthy  of  the 
occasion,  the  large  sweeping  hemicycle  showing  hardly  a 
Deputy  absent,  and  the  public  galleries  packed.  In  the 
diplomatic  box  facing  the  Tribune  sat  Mr.  Sharp.  Time 
after  time  as  M.  Viviani  eloquently  described  the  part 
America  was  ready  to  play  at  that  solemn  moment  of  des- 
tiny, the  House  rose  to  its  feet,  with  General  Pershing 
looking  down  on  a  sea  of  upturned,  cheering  faces  of 
Deputies.  The  sitting  began  with  an  ovation  for  General 
Pershing,  during  which,  for  six  or  seven  minutes,  he  had 
to  stand  in  acknowledgment  of  the  applause.  M.  Ribot 
then  went  to  the  Tribune  and  outlined  the  course  of  events 
in  Greece,  ending  in  the  abdication  of  King  Constantine. 
When  he  referred  to  the  result  as  "extremely  consoling," 
and  added  that  "another  source  of  comfort  had  come  from 
America,"  the  whole  house  rose  and  again  applauded  Gen- 
eral Pershing  and  Mr.  Sharp.  M.  Ribot  added  that  Presi- 
dent Wilson  had  said  that  we  must  conquer  or  submit. 
"I  think  we  are  all  agreed,"  said  M.  Ribot,  "that  we  shall 
conquer."  Prolonged  applause  showed  how  France  was 
behind  M.  Ribot.  M.  Viviani  followed  M.  Ribot  with  an 
account  of  his  mission  to  the  United  States  in  company  with 
Marshal  Joffre: 

Willingly  I  bow  to  the  invitation  that  the  chief 
of  the  cabinet  [Mr.  Ribot]  extends  accompanied  by 
the  favorable  reception  of  the  Chamber  of  Deputies. 
And  I  would  ask  permission  of  the  members  to  group 
now  some  impressions  of  the  mission  with  which  I 
was  charged. 


356  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

You  will  not  expect  from  me  a  circumstantial  re- 
cital of  the  glorious  welcome,  of  which  we  merely 
mortal  representatives  were  the  recipients  for  France, 
the  Immortal.  Nor  shall  I  recount  in  detail  the  af- 
fecting meetings  with  President  Wilson,  whom  I  shall 
always  remember  as  tranquil,  calm  and  firm,  the  man 
who  after  Washington  and  Lincoln,  holds  in  poised 
hand  all  the  grandeur  of  the  American  nation. 

Yet,  if  I  omit  the  splendor  of  receptions  and  pause 
not  to  rehear  the  cheers  that  rose  from  millions  of 
voices  to  hail  our  beloved  and  imperishable  France, 
I  wish  nevertheless  to  point  out  to  you  an  act  of 
justice,  which  for  long  your  mind  had  in  contempla- 
tion. 

Solely  because  I  am  one  of  you,  and  in  waiver  of 
century-old  rules,  it  has  been  my  unforgettable  honor 
to  be  the  bearer  of  the  word  of  France's  parliament 
to  the  United  States  and  I  aimed  to  span  the  wide 
distance  that  separates  the  two  countries  to  convey 
for  you  to  the  American  Republic  the  fraternal  greet- 
ing of  the  French. 

What  is  the  cause  of  the  various  vigorous  and 
stalwart  feelings  of  the  American  soul  that  decided 
the  country  to  enter  into  the  war  ?  Is  it  merely  grati- 
tude felt  for  the  French  and  for  Lafayette?  No 
one  here  or  elsewhere  can  understand  the  place  France 
holds  in  the  great  heart  of  the  United  States.  No 
oration  lacked  a  memorial  to  the  young  general  and 
there  was  no  building,  draped  with  flags,  on  which 
the  distinguished  and  aristocratic  portraits  of  Wash- 
ington and  Lafayette  were  not  united. 


AMERICAN  FORCES  IN  ENGLAND— FRANCE    357 

It  is  a  great  achievement  that  a  country  main- 
tain jointly  pride  and  gratitude.  And  as  I  saw  and 
listened,  I,  a  son  of  the  French  Revolution,  I  said 
to  myself  the  skeptics  are  wrong,  for  France,  generous 
and  noble  has  not  in  vain  conceived  and  defended 
during  centuries  her  high  ideal  of  justice  and  honor. 
To-day  her  sons  need  only  to  lean  down  to  harvest 
her  undying  seed  in  the  field  of  humanity. 

Is  it  admiration  for  France?  Here  we  must  mete 
justice  to  our  friends  of  America  who  have  not  been 
duped  by  Germany's  clumsy  insinuations.  They 
realized  that  our  people,  despite  heated  and  legitimate 
strife  in  times  of  peace,  would  not  show  themselves 
in  war  a  race  feeble,  corrupt  and  fallen. 

Was  it  our  courage?  That  we  have  forever  in- 
scribed in  the  annals  of  glory.  Yet  it  was  not  our 
courage.  The  soul  of  the  people  of  the  United  States 
was  stirred  to  the  depths  by  our  silence,  our  com- 
posure, our  dignity — it  was  our  very  people  standing 
upright  and  alert,  people  of  the  workshop  and  the 
furrow.  The  battle  of  the  Marne  was  the  thrill, 
Verdun  the  staying  power.  The  spectacle  of  this 
capital  in  dread,  yet  calm, — worthy  of  the  Paris 
which  German  calumny  had  labeled  the  capital  of 
frivolity — vibrant  with  victory,  though  more  dignified 
and  calmer  even,  as  if  she  were  withholding  her 
whole  enthusiasm  for  that  day  when  by  force  of 
our  arms  Right  shall  be  forever  established  in  the 
world. 

I  understand  the  clamor  of  enthusiasm  with  which 
I  was  heard  and  the  word  of  the  governor  chosen  by 


358  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

several  millions — ''Justice,  if  it  takes  the  last  dollar, 
the  last  man,  the  last  heart-beat. ' '  The  United  States 
entered  the  war  because  it  gauged  its  meaning  ab- 
solutely, its  character  of  morality  and  democracy. 
After  study,  understanding  and  preparation,  and 
by  testimony  of  which  we  in  France  had  no  actual 
need,  the  United  States  decided  that  the  responsibil- 
ity for  the  war  devolves  upon  the  Central  Empires, 
that  the  blood-stained  hands  are  those  of  Emperors 
become  criminal  and  that  the  time  had  come  in  which 
to  settle  the  conflict  between  autocracy  and  democ- 
racy. 

As  long  as  there  shall  exist  in  the  world  a  per- 
verse force  of  mendacity,  and  predatory  aggression 
democracies  will  survive  in  peril  of  the  menace,  after 
ten,  twenty  or  thirty  years,  of  the  whirlwind  of  fire 
and  sword  of  German  brutishness.  There  can  be  no 
peace  for  us  without  victory,  unless  we  lose  respect 
for  our  graves,  for  our  cradles,  or  unless  we  are  pre- 
pared to  see  in  barbarous  rhythm  every  thirty  years, 
the  sons  of  our  sons  taking  their  place  in  the  same 
death  heaps  as  their  fathers. 

But  the  United  States  has  come  into  the  war, 
determined  valiantly  to  see  it  through,  rendering  us 
immediate  assistance  and  resolved  to  cooperate  with 
us  for  victory,  thus  ranking  itself  with  our  allies  as 
the  champions  of  universal  Eight.  Universal  Right! 
Could  France  have  suffered  that  her  heritage  of 
human  right,  justice  and  liberty  be  taken  from  her? 
No.  For  three  years  we  have  been  at  war;  political 
and  economic  burdens  have  become  heavier;  and  be- 


AMERICAN  FORCES  IN  ENGLAND— FRANCE    359 

side  the  cradle  mothers  think  of  the  grave.    Undeni- 
ably we  have  known  every  anguish. 

And  afterward?  Mr.  Ribot  has  reminded  us  of 
what  the  future  holds  in  store.  We  must  be  victorious 
or  submit  to  the  enemy.     There  is  no  other  choice. 

AT   napoleon's   tomb — HIS   SWORD   AND   GRAND  CROSS 

A  dramatic  climax  came  next  day  when  at  the  Invalides 
were  presented  to  General  Pershing  that  he  might  hold 
them  for  a  moment,  the  sword  and  grand  cross  cordon  of 
the  Legion  of  Honor  that  belonged  to  Napoleon,  the  most 
signal  honor  France  could  bestow  on  any  man.  Before  that 
day  not  even  a  Frenchman  had  for  years  been  permitted 
to  hold  those  historic  relics  in  his  hands.  Kings  and  Princes 
had  been  taken  to  the  crypt  that  holds  the  body  of  the 
great  Emperor,  but  they  had  only  viewed  his  sword  and 
cross  through  plate  glass.  Until  that  day  these  relics  had 
not  been  touched  since  the  time  of  Louis  Philippe. 

General  Pershing  and  his  staff  were  conducted  to  the 
crypt  by  Marshal  Joffre,  who  followed  the  precedent  laid 
down  by  Napoleon,  that  only  a  Marshal  of  France  might 
remain  covered  in  his  presence.  After  the  great  key  had 
been  inserted  in  the  brass  door  of  the  crypt,  Marshal  Joffre 
and  General  Niox,  Governor  of  the  Invalides,  stepped  aside 
to  permit  General  Pershing  to  face  the  door  alone.  Taking 
a  deep  breath,  he  stepped  suddenly  forward  and  with  a 
single  motion  threw  his  arm  straight  out  and  turned  the 
key.  In  a  tiny  alcove  at  one  side  of  the  crypt  the  Governor 
of  the  Invalides  then  unlocked  the  sword  case,  drew  out 
the  sword,  raised  it  to  his  lips,  and  presented  the  hilt  to 
General  Pershing,  who  received  it,  held  it  at  salute  for  a 
moment  and  then  kissed  the  hilt.  The  same  ceremony  was 
followed  with  the  cross  of  the  cordon  of  the  Legion  of 


360  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Honor,  General  Pershing  holding  the  cross  to  his  lips 
before  passing  it  back  to  the  Governor.  One  of  the  staff 
officers  said  when  the  ceremony  was  over:  "It  was  more 
than  a  historic  moment.  It  was  an  epic  one.  General 
Pershing  at  the  tomb  of  Napoleon  will  live  in  French 
history,  as  does  Washington  in  prayer  at  Valley  Forge. 
It  would  take  some  Victor  Hugo  to  write  about  it  prop- 
erly."i 

AMERICAN   REGULARS   REACH   FRANCE 

American  regular  troops  arrived  at  a  French  port  on 
June  26  and  27.  They  were  met  by  frantic  cheers  from 
crowds  that  had  gathered  for  hours  before  to  welcome  them. 
Enthusiasm  rose  to  fever  pitch  when  it  was  learned  that 
the  transports  and  convoys  had  successfully  passed  the 
submarine  zone,  news  supplemented  a  few  days  later  with 
details  of  two  battles  with  submarines  in  which  some  of 
the  submarines  were  sunk.  Five  torpedoes  had  been  fired 
at  the  transports  without  hitting  any  of  them.  The  troops 
were  in  excellent  shape,  enthusiastic  over  their  successful 
trip  and  their  reception,  and  eager  for  action.  With  the 
harbor  dotted  with  convoys,  the  streets  of  this  seaport 
were  filled  with  soldiers  in  khaki  ^nd  with  bluejackets. 
This  advance  guard  contained  thousands  of  seasoned  regu- 
lars and  marines,  trained  fighting  men  still  wearing  the 
tan  of  long  service  on  the  Mexican  border. 

A  new  record  had  been  set  for  the  transportation  of 
troops.  Considering  the  distance  covered  and  the  fact  that 
all  preparations  had  to  be  made  after  the  order  to  sail 
came  from  the  White  House  on  the  night  of  May  18,  it  was 
believed  that  never  before  had  a  military  expedition  of  this 
size  been  assembled,  transported  and  landed  without  a 
mishap  in  so  short  a  time.     The  only  rival  in  magnitude 

*  The  New  York  Times. 


AMERICAN  FORCES  IN  ENGLAND—FRANCE    361 

was  the  movement  of  British  troops  to  South  Africa  in  the 
Boer  War,  but  that  was  made  over  seas  unhampered  by 
submarines,  mines,  or  other  obstacles.  All  the  American 
troops  had  been  armed  and  equipped  by  the  United  States. 
At  their  camp  on  French  soil  were  soon  to  be  stored  sup- 
plies enough  to  keep  them  for  months. 

General  Pershing's  forefathers  were  Alsatians,  Frederick 
and  John  Pershing  coming  to  America  in  1749,  landing  at 
Baltimore.  Frederick  was  the  ancestor  of  General  Persh- 
ing, who  was  the  fifth  in  the  line.  In  1855  the  General's 
father  settled  in  Laclede,  Mo.,  where  the  General  was  bom. 
A  public  road  in  Alsace  leading  from  the  little  town  of 
Beauman  is  still  called  the  Pershing  Road.  Frenchmen 
heard  of  the  General's  Alsatian  ancestry  with  unconcealed 
joy,  Alsatians  with  many  a  thought  of  it  as  an  augury  of 
a  soon-to-be-realized  Alsatian  dream  of  almost  fifty  years. 
A  delegation  from  the  Alsace-Lorraine  Republican  Com- 
mittee called  on  him  on  June  29  and  told  him  how  proud 
they  were  that  a  descendant  of  their  little  country  had 
come  to  France  from  America  to  fight  for  the  triumph  of 
their  inalienable  rights  and  for  the  restoration  to  France 
of  her  lost  provinces.  General  Pershing  was  visibly  moved 
when  he  replied  that  he  was  most  happy  to  greet  repre- 
sentatives of  the  valiant  people  who  had  suffered  so  deeply 
because  of  fidelity  to  their  country.  He  had  a  warm  place 
in  his  heart  for  Alsace,  the  land  of  his  fathers. 

General  Pershing  was  soon  evoking  from  Parisians  sin- 
cere comments  on  the  energy  with  which  he  had  taken  up 
his  tasks  and  in  which  he  had  shown  the  unceremonious 
directness  of  others  among  the  world's  conspicuous  com- 
manders. The  thing  to  be  done  was  the  important  thing  to 
him,  not  the  formalities  it  might  surround  itself  with. 
Once,  when  a  question  was  raised  as  to  who  should  "call 
first" — ^that  is,  he  or  the  person  whom  he  wished  to  meet — 


362  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

his  earnest  comment  was,  "The  real  point  is,  I  must  see 
him." 

Marshal  Joffre,  as  one  commentator  put  it,  had  now  "en- 
listed in  the  service  of  the  United  States  for  the  duration 
of  the  war."  France  had  really  lent  him  to  us,  so  to  speak 
— him  its  first  soldier,  its  only  marshal,  in  order  that  he 
might  help  General  Pershing  by  placing  at  his  disposal 
all  that  he  and  France  had  learned  from  experience  in  three 
years  of  war.  Not  alone  was  this  information  and  Marshal 
Joffre's  advice  to  be  of  great  value  to  us;  Marshal  Joffre's 
services,  rendered  in  this  way,  were  to  be  of  perhaps  greater 
value  in  their  effect  on  public  opinion  in  this  country.  He 
soon  became  known  as  "the  godfather  of  the  American 
Army" — a  term  of  affectionate  regard,  similar  in  spirit 
and  sympathy  to  the  appellation  of  "Papa"  Joffre,  which 
he  had  received  from  Frenchmen  early  in  the  war.  At 
the  same  time  a  convenient  and  familiar  term  was  found 
for  our  private  soldiers.  As  the  British  had  been  called 
"Tommies"  and  the  French  "Poilu,"  so  now  the  Americans 
were  known  as  "Sammies,"  and  again  as  "Teddies." 

General  Pershing  and  Marshal  Joffre  came  at  once  into 
close  cooperation,  meeting  constantly  in  Paris,  now  at  the 
headquarters  of  one,  now  at  those  of  the  other.  Crowds 
gathered  at  either  place  whenever  these  two  were  known  to 
be  in  consultation.  Once  when  both  were  at  General  Persh- 
ing's headquarters  and  Marshal  Joffre  was  leaving,  Gen- 
eral Pershing  was  seen  to  accompany  him  out  of  the  build- 
ing and  across  the  sidewalk  to  his  automobile,  where  he 
opened  the  door  of  the  car  and  after  seeing  the  Marshal 
well  seated,  closed  the  door  himself,  each  saluting  the  other 
as  the  car  rolled  away.  Parisians  saw  something  fine, 
something  unusual,  in  that. 


AMERICAN  FORCES  IN  ENGLAND— FRANCE    363 

MARSHAL  JOFFRE  INTERVIEWED 

Marshal  Joffre  on  July  3  gave  to  an  American  newspaper 
correspondent*  a  personal  interview  in  Paris,  at  which,  in 
reply  to  questions,  he  made  a  few  comments  on  his  visit 
to  the  United  States  and  on  the  arrival  in  France  of  Gen- 
eral Pershing  and  the  regular  troops: 

I  met  General  Pershing  in  America  and  was  at 
once  struck  by  his  poise.  My  acquaintance  with  him 
here  has  confirmed  my  earlier  impression.  Fore- 
thought and  steadiness  seem  to  be  characteristic  of 
him.  I  do  not  think  he  would  act  hastily  or  rashly. 
He  weighs  his  actions  carefully.  Of  course,  he  is  a 
fine  soldier,  with  admirable  training.  In  my  judg- 
ment, America  could  not  have  placed  an  expeditionary 
force  in  better  hands.  As  America  has  put  so  much 
of  her  resources  in  this  enterprise,  and  as  she  is  going 
to  be  all  powerful  in  finishing  this  war,  she  is  par- 
ticularly fortunate  in  securing  a  leader  who  thinks 
before  he  acts.  We  have  talked  much  together,  and 
I  like  his  ideas  on  military  matters  as  much  as  I  ad- 
mire his  fine  personality. 

The  arrival  of  General  Pershing  and  his  staff  made 
an  impression  in  France  of  the  seriousness  and 
strength  of  America.  Now  that  the  troops  have 
landed  the  impression  is  renewed  and  strengthened. 
It  shows  that  you  are  getting  to  work  in  good  earnest. 
It  is  a  fine  beginning.  I  can  only  say,  keep  it  up, 
increase  the  speed,  and  never  stop  until  you  have 

*  Charles  H.  Grasty,  representing  the  New  York  Times. 


364  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

accomplished  what  you  set  out  to  accomplish.  The 
arrival  of  American  troops  on  time  and  without  a 
mishap  reflects  credit  on  your  Government  and  en- 
courages the  belief  that  the  submarine  does  not  pre- 
sent a  barrier  to  the  transport  of  troops  across  the 
ocean  that  cannot  be  overcome  by  the  organization 
and  utilization  of  your  resources. 

All  that  has  happened  confirms  my  judgment  of 
America  as  formed  before  and  during  my  visit.  I 
was  very  much  impressed  by  the  rapidity  with  which 
Americans  made  up  their  minds  and  still  more  by 
their  quickness  of  action  afterward.  What  I  want 
to  see,  what  I  expect  to  see,  is  continuity  of  action  on 
a  rising  scale ;  no  letup  for  a  single  moment.  The  way 
to  win  the  war  quickly  is  to  bring  to  bear  every  ounce 
on  and  behind  the  fighting  line.  Peace  will  come 
through  the  hardest  possible  fighting  at  the  earliest 
possible  moment.  With  her  resources  of  men  and 
finance  America  will  strike  the  finishing  blow  that 
will  bring  an  end  of  hostilities. 

I  came  back  from  America  convinced  of  what  that 
country  was  doing  and  could  do.  What  I  said  there 
I  repeat  now.  Bring  men  here;  bring  them  as  fast 
as  possible.  Train  them  in  trench  and  other  Euro- 
pean methods  here  within  the  influence  of  actual  war. 
That  is  the  one  school  for  a  soldier.  We  want  men, 
men,  men.  Not  alone  for  actual  fighting,  but  for 
work  of  all  kinds.  It  is  natural  that  the  ranks  of 
labor  in  France  should  have  suffered  depletion  in  these 
three  years.  We  need  men  to  work  on  roads,  men 
to  build  and  repair  railroads,  men  for  the  telegraph 


AMERICAN  FORCES  IN  ENGLAND— FRANCE    365 

and  telephone,  men  for  lumbering,  every  sort  of  ca- 
pable labor — not  all  of  it  necessarily  military  or  mili- 
tarized, but  all  contributing  as  truly  and  honorably 
to  winning  the  war  as  the  fighting  itself. 

The  deepest  impression,  perhaps,  that  I  obtained 
of  America  was  that  of  the  combination  of  the  two 
contrasting  qualities  in  the  American  character.  Al- 
though the  people  are  great  in  their  material  interests 
and  achievements,  they  have  lofty  and  noble  ideals. 
I  mention  two  proofs.  America  comes  into  this  war 
without  a  shadow  of  direct  material  interest  and 
purely  to  secure  and  establish  the  independence  of  na- 
tions. The  second  proof  is  the  veneration  in  which 
those  who  have  striven  for  high  ideals  are  held  by  the 
people.  The  names  of  Lincoln,  Washington,  Grant, 
and  Lafayette  are  universally  revered. 

The  crowds  I  saw  in  New  York  and  those  which 
welcomed  General  Pershing  here  are  difficult  to  com- 
pare. The  New  York  crowd  can  make  a  greater  vol- 
ume of  sound  because  it  is  bigger.  We  have  been  cut 
down  by  war.  But  I  do  not  concede  that  any  crowd 
could  feel  a  deeper  enthusiasm  than  ours  on  June 
13  felt  for  General  Pershing.  I  want  very  much  to  go 
back  after  the  war  and  take  Mme.  Joffre  with  me. 

A  GREAT  FOURTH  OF   JULY 

On  July  3  a  battaUon  of  American  regular  troops  that 
had  landed  from  one  of  the  transports  a  few  days  before, 
arrived  in  Paris  to  take  part  in  a  parade  on  July  4,  in 
celebration  of  the  American  Day  of  Independence.  Wildly 
enthusiastic  crowds  packed  the  streets  through  which  they 


366  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

marched,  waving  American  and  French  flags,  while  girls 
pinned  bouquets  and  flags  on  soldiers'  coats,  and  French 
soldiers  on  leave  grasped  the  hands  of  Americans  and 
marched  beside  them.  Several  times  groups  of  shop  girls 
on  their  way  to  work  slipped  through  the  police  lines 
and  kissed  some  of  the  soldiers — to  their  obvious  embarrass- 
ment. A  number  of  children  knelt  in  the  street  as  the 
regiment's  flag  was  carried  by.  They  were  orphans  from 
an  institution  in  the  neighborhood. 

To  celebrate  the  Fourth  of  July,  Paris  turned  out  a 
crowd  that  probably  no  American  city  ever  surpassed  for 
size,  enthusiasm  and  profusion  of  Stars  and  Stripes.  The 
battalion  that  was  about  to  leave  for  training  behind  the 
battle  front,  had  that  day  its  first  official  review  in  France, 
and  became  the  center  of  the  celebration.  Everj'where  the 
American  flag  was  seen  on  public  buildings,  hotels  and  resi- 
dences; on  automobiles,  cabs  and  carts;  on  horses*  bridles 
and  on  the  lapels  of  pedestrians'  coats.  All  routes  leading 
to  the  Invalides,  where  a  ceremony  was  to  take  place,  were 
thronged  before  the  battalion  appeared.  About  the  court 
of  honor  where  it  was  to  be  drawn  up  with  a  detachment 
of  French  Territorials,  buildings  overflowed  to  the  roofs 
with  crowded  humanity.  Standing  in  the  center  were  de- 
scendants of  French  soldiers  who  fought  in  the  American 
Revolution.  Inmates  of  the  French  Soldiers'  Home — the 
Invalides — erect  and  soldierly  in  appearance  in  spite  of 
gray  hairs,  stood  behind  as  a  guard  of  honor.  Alongside 
was  a  delegation  from  Le  Puy,  the  city  nearest  to  the  old 
landed  estate  which  was  the  birthplace  of  Lafayette,  carry- 
ing a  lace-adorned  flag  for  presentation  to  the  American 
troops. 

The  enthusiasm  of  the  crowd  reached  its  highest  pitch 
when  General  Pershing,  escorted  by  President  Poincare, 
Marshal  Joffre,  and  other  high  officials,  passed  along  t^ 


AMERICAN  FORCES  IN  ENGLAND— FRANCE    367 

review  the  Americans  drawn  up  in  square  formation.  Cheer- 
ing broke  out  anew  when  the  American  band  struck  up  the 
"Marseillaise,"  again  when  the  French  band  played  "The 
Star-Spangled  Banner,"  and  when  General  Pershing  re- 
ceived flags  from  the  President.  Salutations  of  "Vivent 
les  Americains !"  "Vive  Pershing !"  "Vivent  les  Etats  Unis !" 
spoken  over  and  over  again  by  the  crowd,  greeted  the 
American  standard  bearers  as  they  advanced.  The  crowd 
had  waited  for  three  hours  to  witness  a  ceremony  that 
was  over  in  fifteen  minutes. 

Outside,  a  greater  crowd,  covering  the  entire  Esplanade 
of  the  Invalides,  took  up  the  cheers  as  Pershing's  men 
marched  away.  The  Cours  de  la  Reine,  the  Alexander  III 
bridge,  leading  to  the  Place  de  la  Concorde,  was  black  with 
people.  Thousands  of  French  soldiers,  on  leave  from  the 
front,  were  seen  scattered  along  the  route.  Hundreds  left 
the  sidewalks  and  rushed  forward  to  shake  hands  with  the 
Americans.  Other  hundreds  in  trench-worn  uniforms, 
stained  and  dingj',  joined  the  marching  troops  on  either  side 
in  columns.  Some  of  them  wore  bandages  on  their  heads; 
others  had  their  arms  in  slings.  Children  ran  forward 
throwing  flowers  in  front  of  the  marching  Americans. 
Flowers  were  tossed  through  the  air  from  sidewalks  or 
came  fluttering  down  from  windows,  to  be  caught  up  by 
American  soldiers,  who  stuck  them  into  the  muzzles  of  their 
rifles,  or  tucked  them  into  their  belts.  From  every  window 
women  and  girls  waved  handkerchiefs  or  flags.  Children 
from  all  the  primary  schools  in  the  quarter  had  been  as- 
signed to  best  places.  Thousands  of  them  called  out  "Ted- 
dy!" "Teddy!"  "Teddy!"  and  threw  flowers  to  the  soldiers. 

Various  other  events,  such  as  a  great  public  meeting  at 
the  Sorbonne,  the  placing  of  a  wreath  by  the  Municipal 
Council  at  the  foot  of  the  statue  of  Washington  in  the 
Place  des  Etats  Unis,  and  one  by  the  French  Society  of 


368  BALFOUR,  VIVIANI  AND  JOFFRE 

Army  and  Navy  Veterans,  marked  the  day.  It  was  said  at 
Police  Headquarters,  by  officials  familiar  with  demonstra- 
tions, that  at  least  a  million  people  must  have  seen  the 
parade  along  its  line  of  march.  When  the  last  man  had 
passed,  great  crowds  surged  to  the  middle  of  streets,  break- 
ing through  the  police  and  military  guards  and  blocking 
traffic  for  a  long  time  afterwards.  More  people  were 
massed  in  the  Tuileries  Gardens  than  were  seen  on  the 
Esplanade  at  the  Invalides.  Few  could  get  even  a  glimpse 
of  the  parade  as  it  came  back  from  the  Invalides,  but  all 
joined  in  a  tremendous  outburst  of  cheering  that  did  not 
diminish  in  volume  until  the  last  man  in  the  line  had  dis- 
appeared from  view  down  the  Rue  de  Rivoli. 

At  the  cemetery  in  Paris  where  Lafayette  is  buried,  the 
battalion  passed  through  the  arched  gateway  leading  to  an 
old  convent,  and  thence  to  the  little  burial-ground  adjoin- 
ing. Here  were  gathered  three  or  four  hundred  other 
persons,  including  prominent  Americans  and  Frenchmen. 
In  the  presence  of  Ambassador  Sharp,  General  Pershing 
and  Marshal  Joffre,  a  wreath  was  placed  by  the  Americans 
on  the  plain  stone  slab  above  the  grave.  General  Pershing, 
who  occupied  one  of  the  few  seats  about  the  tomb,  said  he 
had  intended  to  say  nothing,  but  he  felt  so  deeply  the  sig- 
nificance of  the  occasion  that  he  did  not  desire  it  to  pass 
without  some  expression  on  his  part.  He  spoke  earnestly 
of  the  determination  in  this  war  of  the  American  people 
and  the  American  Government,  fighting  as  they  were  along- 
side their  allies  in  Europe,  to  maintain  the  just  cause  of 
liberty  and  democracy.  General  Pershing's  remarks  were 
received  with  tremendous  cheering.  This  cemetery  is  known 
as  the  Cemetery  of  Picpus,  and  lies  in  the  old  St.  Antoine 
neighborhood,  south  of  the  Place  de  la  Nation,  and  not 
far  from  the  Bois  de  Vincennes.  Some  of  the  oldest  families 
in  France  have  buried  their  dead  in  Picpus.    A  part  of  it 


AMERICAN  FORCES  IN  ENGLAND— FRANCE    369 

was  formerly  known  as  the  Cimetiere  de  Guillotines,  1370 
victims  of  the  revolution  having  been  buried  there  in  1793. 
The  chapel,  or  oratory,  which  the  cemetery  adjoins,  belongs 
to  the  nuns  of  the  Sacre-Coeur  de  Jesus  et  de  Marie.  Lafay- 
ette died  in  1837,  his  wife,  the  Comtesse  de  Noailles,  who  is 
also  buried  in  Picpus,  in  1807. 

Next  day  the  battalion  was  off  for  the  American  train- 
ing camp  behind  the  fighting  line.  President  Poincare,  at 
the  conclusion  of  the  day's  ceremonies,  sent  a  cablegram 
of  felicitation  to  President  Wilson. 


Women  0/ Belgium 

TURNING  TRAGEDY  to  TRIUMPH 
A  Booh  of  Gripping  Human  Interest 


By  CHARLOTTE  KELLOGG 

With  an  Introduction  by  HERBERT  C.  HOOVER 


ALL  PROFITS  OF  THIS  VOLUME  GO  TO  THE 
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Of  these  latter,  in  his  Introduction,  Mr.  Herbert 
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"Our  task  and  theirs  has  been  to  maintain  the 
laughter  of  the  children,  not  to  dry  their  tears." 

This  volume  is  a  revelation  of  "the  incredible, 
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A  new,  practical,  and  valuable  book  for  all 
who  would  keep  well  and  fit 

How  to   Live 

RULES  FOR  HEALTHFUL  LIVING 
BASED    ON    MODERN    SCIENCE 

Authorized   by   and    Prepared   in   Collaboration   with  the 
Hygiene  Reference  Board  o{  the  Life  Ejctension  Institute,  Inc. 

By  IRVING  FISHER,  Chairman, 

Professor  of  Political  Economy,  Yale  University 

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Director  of  Hygiene  of  the  Institute 

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HOW  TO 
SPEAK   IN   PUBLIC 

A  Most  Suggestive  and  Practical  Self-Instructor 

By  Grenville  Kleiser 

Author  of  "  Power  and  Personality  in  Speaking."  etc. 

This  new  book  is  a  complete  elocutionary  man* 
ucl  comprizing  numerous  exercises  for  developing 
the  speaking  voice,  deep  breathing,  pronunciation, 
vocal  expression,  and  gesture ;  also  selections  for 
practise  from  masterpieces  of  ancient  and  modern 
eloquence.  It  is  intended  for  students,  teachers, 
business  men,  lawyers,  clergymen,  politicians,  clubs, 
debating  societies,  and,  in  fact,  every  one  interested 
in  the  art  of  public  speaking. 

OUTLINE   OF   CONTENTS 
Mechanics  of  Elocution 
Mental  Aspects 
Public  Speaking 
Selections  for  Practise 


Preparation  of  Speech 


Previous  Preparation 
Physical  Preparation 
Mental  Preparation 
Moral  Preparation 


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New  York. 

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a  large  number  of  our  best  works  on  the  subject  of  elocution. 
It  contains  many  admirable  suggestions  for  those  who  are  inter- 
ested in  becoming  better  speakers.  As  a  general  text  for  use 
in  teaching  public  speaking,  it  may  be  used  with  great  success-" 
—John  W.  Wetzel,  Instructor  in  Public  Speaking,  Yale  Uni- 
versity, New  Haven.  Conn. 

12 mo.  Cloth.    $1.25,  Net;  Post-paid,  $1,40 

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CASSELL'S  NEW 

French  Dictionary 

{French-English  and  English-French) 

Compiled  from  the  best  authorities  in 
both  languages  by  JAMES  BOiELLE, 
B.A.  (Univ.  Gall.)officier  D'acad^mie,  late 
examiner  in  French  in  the  University  of 
London,  corresponding  member  of  "La 
Soci^te  de  gensde  lettres  de  France,** etc., 
etc.,  aided  by  DE  V.  PAYEN-PAYNE, 
assistant  examiner  in  French  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  London,  Principal  of  Kensing- 
ton Coaching  College;  author  of  "French 
Idioms  and  Proverbs.'* 

Recently  revised  and  enlarged.  Many  thou- 
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matic expressions,  proverbs  and  proverbial  ex- 
pressions, having  been  added.  Containing,  in  ad- 
dition to  the  regular  French-English  and  English- 
French  vocabulary,  a  special  article  on  French 
Pronunciation;  a  list  of  French  Nouns  of  Double 
Gender;  a  table  of  Irregular  and  Defective  Verbs, 
and  their  Conjugations;  a  special  Vocabulary  of 
Proper  Names;  separate  Vocabulary  of  Geograph- 
ical Names,  etc. 

"The  best  French  and  English  Dictionary  of  an  ordinary 
size  in  existence." — Critical  Review,  Paris. 

Octavo,   Cloth,  1,230  Pages.      $1.50,  net;  with  Patent  Double 

Thumb-Notch  Index,  50c.  extra.    Full  Flexible  Morocco, 

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NEW  YORK  and  LONDON 


GENEKAL  Li  jPaRY 
SITY  <^F  CALIFORNIA— BERKiiLEY 


DAY  US^^ 

14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 
on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall.        j 

akvb.10. 

AUTO  DiSU. 

^/    ■csC^^iAy, 

WAY  I  y  V^;:- 

i/' 

CIRCULATION 

JUN     3 1963 

Ixiiu  u  iM 

JUr^S    1963 

NOV  1  4  1965  9  1 

f'ECo  LD 

Wl^lS-fiS-aAM 

, 

^^    cprini 

MAY  2  0  1992 

LD  21A-50m-ll,'62 
(D3279S10U76B 

General  Library 
University  of  California 

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